Florida State’s coaching search has already started to lose one of its early names.
Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert, who was linked to the Seminoles as the school looks to move on from the Mike Norvell era, is staying put after his latest decision. Dickert had been an obvious fit for the conversation after a strong start with the Demon Deacons, and his resume only sharpened the speculation: nine wins in his first season at Wake Forest, the most by a first-year coach in program history, followed by an 8-1 start and a No. 11 ranking in the latest College Football Playoff rankings.
Dickert made his stance clear before anything was finalized. While discussions were still ongoing, he told FOX Sports’ Ben Portnoy that his focus was on keeping his team intact.
“We didn’t come here to leave,” Dickert told FOX Sports.
That message lands at a time when Florida State is moving quickly but saying very little. The school is less than two weeks into its search for Norvell’s replacement, and the administration has made it clear the job will be filled sooner rather than later. New athletic director Jeff Purinton is sorting through candidates, but the brass in Garnet and Gold has kept its cards close to the vest.
The names attached to the opening have ranged from the speculative to the more realistic. NoleGameday listed Dickert and Duke’s Manny Diaz among its early candidates, and Diaz - a Florida State graduate who led Duke to the ACC title last season - told his players earlier this month that he was happy in Durham.
Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann has also been connected to the opening. Purinton’s ties to Alabama, where he overlapped with Schumann, have added to that buzz. At his introductory press conference Tuesday, Purinton said he would consider how candidates evaluate recruits, motivate their players, and get their teams to perform on Saturdays.
Other names floating around the search include UCLA’s Bob Chesney, Kentucky’s Will Stein, Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, New Mexico’s Jason Eck, and former head coach Jimbo Fisher.
For Florida State, the next hire will come with real backing. The school has the resources and facilities to chase top recruits. But the expectation is simple: win games, or risk slipping into another lost decade.
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