A new chapter is set about to be written in Tallahassee after Florida State parted ways with athletic director Michael Alford. The shift away from Alford is likely just the start of a series of major moves set to happen, but finding a replacement for Alford will be high on the priority list for the Seminoles.
Florida State needs a new athletic director, and the cost of the last hiring could have lasting effects on multiple programs without a positive new hiring. Bruce Warwick will hold down the fort until the Seminoles find the right man for the job, which offers a perfect chance to look at some potential candidates.
The Inside Hire: Josh Turner - Florida State, Deputy AD
Assuming some of the people who make up the current athletic department are safe, which is a big assumption, then there is someone within the program who could make a run at the job. Current deputy athletic director Josh Turner is one of the newest hires in the athletic department, but his deep understanding of financial strategy could help earn him the promotion.
Before Florida State, Turner spent time with Miami and Georgia Southern, focusing primarily on athletic business operations. Turner has been tasked with developing budgets, assessing risk, and managing the spending of the department in his previous roles. Turner has only been with Florida State for a short time after being hired in 2025, but his understanding of how to properly and effectively utilize resources is important, as the Seminoles have struggled in that area.
Turner is admittedly not the most flashy or previously successful hire Florida State could go with, but sometimes giving a chance to the person who has proven himself in other roles is the right choice.
The Finance Wizard: Jared Benko - Auburn, Executive Deputy AD
Georgia Southern was an important stop for Turner for multiple reasons, and meeting a specific member of the athletic department was key. One such member was Jared Benko, the former athletic director who helped drive the program into the new NIL era of college athletics.
Benko spent time with Georgia, Auburn, Arkansas, and Mississippi State before truly hitting his stride with Georgia Southern. Benko amassed nearly $41 million in donations, setting records on three separate occasions with massive gifts that have helped alter the entire athletic landscape for Georgia Southern. Since returning to Auburn in 2024, Benko has overseen budgets, fundraising efforts, contracts, and all things NIL for the Tigers.
Auburn may have only hired Benko a short time ago in the grand scheme of things, but his presence has been felt financially. The Tigers have brought in 66 players through the transfer portal the past two off-seasons, and currently have one of the top 2027 high school classes in the country. Results may still not be there on the fields and courts for Auburn, but Benko has a way of consistently finding a promising return on his investments.
The Reach: Derrick Brooks - USF, COO
There is always a candidate that joins the search who was rarely mentioned when the opening was first announced. Someone tends to come out of nowhere, and if there was a candidate who could do that for Florida State, it would be current USF staffer Derrick Brooks.
Brooks is a very familiar name for Florida State fans, having won a national championship with the program during his playing career, before putting together a historic 14-year NFL career. Brooks joined USF in 2025 following a decade in professional front offices, and just after the Bulls went through a major restructuring of the athletic department. The hiring of Brooks was critical for USF, as his experience in the area and the position offered the program plenty of expertise.
Florida State needs a new athletic director, and hiring a historic alumnus like Brooks would be the splash hire that could bring back some of the fans who started to lose interest in the football program. The only issue? Florida State may realistically have nothing to offer that Brooks does not already have in his current role.
Brooks is in the city where he has spent his entire professional life, working in a growing athletic department, while providing direct oversight of the football program. Tallahassee could offer a bigger role and more money, but money and nostalgia do not always make the headache of transitioning into a new role easier.
The Veteran: Scott Carr - FIU, AD
Sometimes a deep history of experience means more than recent accomplishments, which could give Florida International athletic director Scott Carr a real chance. Carr, a graduate of Florida, has spent time with Southern Mississippi, Auburn, and UCF prior to landing with FIU back in 2021. The longtime athletic director is a front office veteran, and with his experience in the position comes experience with difficult situations.
Coach Mike Norvell is essentially gone despite not yet receiving his exit interview, and his firing seems like just a matter of time. The next athletic director is almost certainly the person who will make the hiring, and Carr is not afraid to make a coaching change when necessary. FIU fired Mike MacIntyre after three-straight 4-8 seasons, and new coach Willie Simmons took the Panthers to a bowl game in his first year.
Florida State may need someone who has seen it all, and Carr would not have to travel far to bring his expertise to Tallahassee.
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