The search for a new coach for Florida State has gotten off to a wild start before even officially getting underway. Multiple potential candidates have already been ruled out, including Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert, who was one of the top candidates for the job.
After firing coach Mike Norvell in the middle of a 3-5 season, the Seminoles' new interim coach was revealed to be offensive analyst Rick Stockstill. The former longtime Middle Tennessee coach got the win in his first game in the new role, but the reality is that Florida State plans on making an outside hire to take over the position for the 2027 season.
Dickert is one of the most accomplished newcomers in the ACC, with a 17-5 record since joining the Demon Deacons ahead of the 2025 season. He finished with a 9-4 record in his first season in the ACC, but the 8-1 record the team currently holds is why Dickert has been tied to virtually every new opening at the collegiate level.
Florida State needs to get better in the ACC moving forward to stay competitive, and Dickert quickly became a top potential candidate for the job due to his recent success. Now, however, Dickert is out of consideration after signing a long-term extension with Wake Forest.
Jake Dickert's long-term extension with Wake Forest takes him out of consideration for Florida State
Crazier things have happened, but with Dickert putting pen to paper on an extension, it seems highly unlikely that the coach will be moving anywhere soon. That is going to take Dickert out of the running for the Florida State job, which is less than ideal at the moment.
Dickert may not have been the ideal candidate for Florida State, since the coach would've needed a raise to move, but his recent track record is hard to ignore. The coach has found success in the ACC as of late despite not having as high a budget as the top dogs in the conference. Winning with a tight budget is impressive, and it is also something that may still happen for the next Florida State coach.
The administration has committed to pouring more money into the football program, but that likely means the next hire cannot be overly expensive. Dickert was one of the cheaper options, and he is not the only coach who is likely out of consideration for the job.
Colorado coach and Florida State legend Deion Sanders was someone who was reportedly briefly considered for the job, but ultimately, the administration does not want to go down that route. Duke coach Manny Diaz is someone to watch, but Diaz is not going to join Florida State for a discounted price. Diaz is on the brink of building something potentially very special with the Blue Devils, and the move to Tallahassee would need to make financial sense to happen.
With more and more potential candidates dropping out early, all signs might be pointing towards Florida State hiring Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann. The Bulldogs cannot offer the same contract as a coordinator, and giving Schumann a raise is still nowhere near what some of the more experienced coaches would command.
Schumann also might be the only option Florida State can pursue without the fear of another program swooping in. The defensive coordinator has been a target to become a head coach for multiple seasons now, and the Florida State job is shaping up to be one of the biggest on the market this offseason.
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