The tumultuous offseason for the Florida State Seminoles football program continued today with news that offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn will be retiring. The news was first broke by CBSSports’ Brandon Marcello but now has been confirmed through an FSU sports release:
TALLAHASSEE – Florida
State offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn announced his retirement from coaching Monday. FSU head coach Mike Norvell has promoted co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Tim Harris Jr. to be the Seminoles’ offensive coordinator.
“After 35 years, it’s time for me to step away from coaching,” Malzahn said. “I am excited to spend more time with my family and focus on the next chapter of my life. I want to thank Coach Norvell for giving me the opportunity to coach at such a prestigious program. I will continue to follow Florida State, and I believe great things are ahead for the program under Coach Norvell’s leadership and for the offense under Tim Harris.”
Florida State led the ACC in total offense and rushing offense in 2025, the second time in the last four seasons the Seminoles topped the conference in both categories. FSU’s 472.1 yards per game was the sixth-highest average in the nation, and its 218.7 rushing yards per game ranked 13th nationally and was the program’s highest rushing average for a season since 1995. Florida State had nine 400-yard games in 2025, including back-to-back games with more than 700 yards for the first time in school history. The Seminoles’ 775 yards against Kent State, which included single-game school records with 498 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, were the most nationally in 2025 and most for any team in the country since 2020.
“I want to thank Coach Malzahn for his effort and dedication to our program over the last 14 months,” Norvell said. “He did a wonderful job coordinating our offense and calling plays in 2025, and he has set a strong foundation for us to continue building on in 2026 behind the coordination of Tim Harris and the multiple other assistant coaches who are returning. Coach Harris has a complete understanding of the offensive scheme, and his ability to effectively share that knowledge with his players will continue to be a benefit for our offense.”
Entering his 11th season as a head coach in 2026, Norvell’s teams average 34.6 points per game, the third-highest scoring average among head coaches active each of the last 10 seasons. Norvell is one of only three head coaches to produce a top-7 rushing offense and top-7 passing offense since 2016. His offense has showcased 60 individual 100-yard rushing games, 52 individual 100-yard receiving games and 26 individual 300-yard passing games.
Norvell has established a well-earned reputation for producing high-powered offenses throughout his career. As an offensive coordinator or head coach, his offenses have eclipsed 5,000 total yards 11 times and topped 6,000 yards five times while averaging at least 35 points per game in eight seasons and reaching the 40-point mark three times.
In 2022, the Seminoles led the ACC in total offense and were one of two teams in the country to average at least 270 passing yards and at least 210 rushing yards per game. FSU led the country with an average of 7.46 plays per game of at least 20 yards and led the conference in scoring offense, total offense, rushing offense, third-down offense, yards per play, yards per pass, yards per rush and yards per completion. The 2023 team once again led the ACC in scoring offense and also topped the conference in total touchdowns, rushing touchdowns and yards per completion while producing 10 all-conference selections on offense led by ACC Player of the Year Jordan Travis.
