Florida State head coach Mike Norvell is stepping back into a familiar role - calling plays on offense - and he’s doing it with a revamped support system behind him.
After a season that fell well short of expectations, Norvell is retaking the reins as FSU’s primary offensive play caller, a role he previously held before handing off duties to Gus Malzahn for the 2025 campaign. With Malzahn now retired, Norvell is confident that the Seminoles' expanded front office will give him the bandwidth to manage both the big picture and the finer details of game-day strategy.
“I think that’s really allowed me a lot more flexibility to do the things that are necessary,” Norvell said this week during an appearance on the ACC Network’s Inside ACCess.
Norvell’s return to play-calling comes after a 5-7 season that saw Florida State struggle mightily on offense. The Seminoles ranked near the bottom of the Power Five in just about every key statistical category - a far cry from the explosive, up-tempo identity Norvell has built his coaching brand around.
That 2025 campaign marked the first time since arriving in Tallahassee that Norvell wasn’t directly involved in calling plays, instead shifting into more of a CEO-style role. The results?
Mixed at best.
Now, he’s getting back to what he knows best - designing and calling plays - and he’s doing it with some new help behind the scenes. FSU has bolstered its front office with the addition of general manager John Garrett and director of player acquisition Taylor Edwards. The program also plans to add at least three more positions focused on scouting and personnel - a clear sign that Norvell wants to streamline his focus on football while trusting an expanded infrastructure to handle the increasingly complex task of roster building.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been able to serve as head coach, play caller - been able to do that for many years,” Norvell said. “As college football has evolved… being able to have that support on the personnel aspect is going to allow me to dive all the way in to support this football team in a variety of different areas.”
That evolution is something programs across the country are grappling with. The modern college football landscape - with its transfer portal chaos, NIL considerations, and year-round recruiting - demands more hands in the operation. Norvell’s move to delegate more of the roster management duties is a strategic shift that could pay off, especially if it allows him to lock back in on the X’s and O’s.
Taking over as offensive coordinator is wide receivers coach Tim Harris Jr., who was recently promoted to co-OC. Norvell had high praise for Harris, calling him a “rising star” in the coaching ranks. But make no mistake - this offense will be Norvell’s to run on Saturdays.
As for the scheme itself, Norvell emphasized the importance of establishing the run to open up explosive plays through the air - a hallmark of his offenses dating back to his Memphis days. It’s a philosophy built around balance, tempo, and putting playmakers in space.
“This is an offense that’s built for playmakers, and I feel like we’ve got a great number of playmakers within this offense,” Norvell said. “We’ll be able to utilize their skills and their talents.”
For Florida State, the hope is that a more focused Norvell - one backed by a deeper support staff and surrounded by young coaching talent - can recapture the offensive identity that once made the Seminoles one of the most dangerous teams in the ACC. After a tough 2025, the pieces are being put in place for a reset. Now it’s up to Norvell to make it count - both from the sideline and the play sheet.