FSU Football: Mike Norvell officially introduced as new Noles head coach

FSU football completed a month long search for the next full time head football coach with the announcement made Sunday introducing the former Memphis coach.

While much of the college football world paid attention to who would make the sixth edition of the playoff system, the FSU football family kept their eyes squarely on Tallahassee – as Mike Norvell was announced as the 11th full time head coach of the Seminoles and the third person to hold that title in a period of just over two calendar years.

Norvell comes to Tallahassee after stints as an assistant coach at Arizona State, Tulsa and Pittsburgh before he spent the last four seasons as head coach of Memphis, where he won double digit games two of the last three years highlighted by a 12-1 record this season that has them on track for a New Years Six bowl appearance.

Norvell arrived on campus shortly before noon with his wife and young daughter – where he spoke with players before taking the walk across Doak Campbell Stadium to meet with the media.

Norvell was introduced to the media by university president John Thrasher and athletics director David Coburn – five weeks after the firing of Willie Taggart and plenty of media speculation over that time for who would be the next head coach of the Seminoles. Coburn said that Norvell was the first person interviewed during the process, long before a decision was made.

The 38-year-old was emotional when he took the stage after what he called a “wild” day – one day after leading Memphis to an American Athletic Conference championship – while saying that he wants to return what he called an “iconic” program back to where it should be and said he was only going to leave there to go to the “right” place.

Norvell pushed that need to bring back a program that sits with an 18-19 record over the last three seasons – emphasizing the need for players, coaches and fans to buy in while saying the team will combine a fast pace with discipline – mentioning his desire for special teams improvement and the 11 kickoff returns for touchdowns over his four seasons at Memphis.

Norvell replaces Taggart, who was hired just over two calendar years ago but lasted just 21 games and was fired following the team’s 27-10 loss early in November to rival Miami – finishing his time in Tallahassee with a 9-12 record, making him the fifth coach to leave with a losing record.

Norvell will get a chance to get his first win as coach of the Seminoles this September, with FSU football scheduled to open the 2020 season on September 5th against West Virginia in Atlanta.