Florida State didn't take long to find its new athletic director. It will be LEARFIELD executive vice president Jeff Purinton, per Pete Nakos of On3. The hire was assisted by Parker Executive Search.
Purinton was the athletic director at Arkansas State from 2022-2025. He was with the Alabama Crimson Tide for 15 years from 2007-2022 in numerous roles such as Associate A.D., Senior Associate A.D., Executive Associate A.D., Deputy Director of Athletics and External Operations, and Executive Deputy Director of Athletics. From 2006-2007, he served as the Director of Media Relations and Communications on the Orange Bowl committee.
His ties to Florida State are very deep. Purinton was the Director of Football Communications and the Assistant Sports Information
Director at FSU from 1998-2006. In 1996, Purinton got his Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Florida State, and he also got his Master of Science in Athletic Administration from the university in 2006.
Next on the agenda for FSU is to hire its next head coach. Parker Executive Search will also assist Purinton in that process.
BREAKING: Florida State is set to hire Learfield Executive Vice President Jeff Purinton as its next athletic director, @Clowfb and @PeteNakos report🍢https://t.co/7QRq8Z4kt9 pic.twitter.com/E1r9wmSspS
— On3 (@On3) November 9, 2026
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Breaking: FSU to hire Jeff Purinton as athletic director
