The offseason is underway for Florida State, with changes to both the Seminoles’ roster and staff expected to take place over the coming weeks after a second-straight losing season.
With an overhaul of
the entire Florida State infrastructure having been proposed in last month’s announcement confirming the retention of head coach Mike Norvell, changes to the FSU coaching staff are also expected.
Last season, FSU hired six coaches to its staff — offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, defensive coordinator Tony White, offensive line coach Herb Hand, safeties coach Evan Cooper, wide receivers coach Tim Harris Jr. and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton — with defensive ends coach John Papuchis moving to linebackers (while still retaining special teams duties) and longtime defensive tackle coach Odell Haggins retaining his associate head coach title but transitioning to an off-field role.
We’ll be tracking the changes as they come in, as well as any other news of note from the coaching staff.
December 12: Brandon Harris has reportedly reversed course, with the UCF defensive backs coach expected to join Jon Sumrall’s inaugural staff at Florida:
December 11: FSU has made the hire of Nick Williams official:
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Florida State family,” Williams said. “I grew up watching Peter Warrick, Warrick Dunn, Charlie Ward and the aggressive, dominant defenses at FSU. As a South Georgia kid, you grow up wanting to be a Florida State Seminole. I remember going to Doak Campbell Stadium with my dad and how electrifying that experience was. My dad raised me that either you’re a liability or you’re an asset, and all I want to do is be an asset for Florida State. I get to come home and do what I love to do. You can’t ask for a better situation than that, and I’m looking forward to doing my part to help get Florida State back among the elite programs in America.”
December 10: FSU is hiring UCF’s Brandon Harris as its new cornerbacks coach, per 247Sports:
The Seminoles are also set to hire Tulsa’s Kam Martin to coach running backs:
December 8: Florida State has hired Syracuse edges coach Nick Williams to the same position:
Arkansas is making a move to hire David “YAC” Johnson:
December 7: Defensive analyst Zach Arnett has been hired as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State — from the official release:
Mississippi State football head coach Jeff Lebby has named Zach Arnett the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator, returning one of the nation’s most productive defensive minds to Starkville. Arnett previously served as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator from 2020-22, coordinating three consecutive top-five SEC defenses before being elevated to head coach in December 2022. He spent the last two seasons as an analyst at Ole Miss (2024) and Florida State (2025).
December 5: Defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr. has reportedly been fired:
Additionally, CBS Sports is reporting that Arkansas is targeting Florida State running backs coach David Johnson for the same job — Johnson also serves as the Seminoles’ recruiting coordinator:
