What to make of FSU football’s revamped front office approach?

4 days ago 1

While Mike Norvell is returning for his seventh season as Florida State head football coach in 2026, it was clear that some other things had to change.

The sweeping coaching changes, with two new coordinators and six new assistant coaches was last offseason.

This offseason, Florida State turned its attention to revamping its front office. It brought back John Garrett, previously FSU’s director of offensive scouting before he took the GM job at Duke. After two seasons there, he’s now back with the Seminoles, returning to be the deputy athletics director/GM of player personnel for the football program.

Change was certainly needed to replace former GM Darrick Yray, who found some early success before the talent acquisition through the transfer portal petered out quite a bit over the last two seasons.

One key distinction in the press release announcing Garrett’s hire this time? He’ll report directly to FSU AD Michael Alford. Yray was a Norvell hire who reported directly to him.

With Norvell’s tenure on such tenuous ground entering the offseason and 2026 quite possibly set to be his final season, it makes sense that Garrett would want to have assurances that his job future isn’t tied to Norvell’s.

However, many were probably still frustrated to hear during Garrett’s introductory press conference Monday that Norvell will have final say on player acquisition.

“It’s Coach Norvell. Coach Norvell has HC next to his name, so we’re all here to make sure we make the best decisions for Florida State University football under his guidance,” Garrett said when asked who will have the final say. “It’s our job to make sure he has all the information to make a the proper decision.”

But Garrett also made it clear that Norvell continues to be quite good about taking feedback from all involved and not making unilateral decisions based solely on his own opinions.

“He does a wonderful job of allowing everyone to have input, and I’ve seen that again in these six days just like I saw it in the past. Coach does a wonderful job of just allowing everybody to contribute, asking questions,” Garrett said. “We’re here to gather the information so we can make an educated decision. The collaboration is always key because everybody has different perspectives and that allows you to to piece it all together so you can make a really good decision.”

It’s a weird duality for sure. The head coach should absolutely have final say on talent acquisition. And yet, one could say talent acquisition — or a lack thereof — is how Florida State ended up here in the first place, 7-17 over the last two seasons following an undefeated regular season and 2023 ACC championship.

Garrett wasn’t around for the last two seasons. And since Norvell hired him the first time, there’s quite a bit of familiarity between them already.

However, the relationship dynamics have certainly shifted this time. While Norvell may get final say, Garrett certainly has better job security. It seems unlikely he would have taken the job if a poor 2026 season could result in his firing.

Thus creates an interesting dynamic. Could he also be the long-term plan in the FSU football front office whether Norvell is there or not?

It seems likely. And it’s not hard to argue that he’s a good candidate on that front with mix of college and NFL experience and track record of success in the college football administrative ranks.

But for now, he’s here to try and help save Norvell and therefore save Florida State a lot of money in the process.

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