What is Mike Norvell's record at FSU? Looking at how FSU HC rebuilt Seminoles football

Mike Norvell is experiencing a rough period with the Florida State Seminoles. The veteran head coach has led the franchise to just one win in the opening nine games of the 2024 college football season.

Hence, there have been increased calls for the Seminoles' management to part ways with the 2023 ACC Coach of the Year. While debate about Norvell's future rages on, let's take a look at how he rebuilt the program after getting the job in 2020.

What is Mike Norvell's record at FSU?

Mike Norvell has a 32–25 record as the head coach of the Seminoles. Norvell took over Florida State during one of the team's most tasking moments. The program had endured two straight losing seasons under Willie Taggart. They went 5–7 in 2018 (3–5 against conference rivals) and 6–7 in 2019 (4-4 versus conference rivals).

Mike Norvell was appointed after guiding the Memphis Tigers to a 12–1 season in 2019. Norvell's first year with the Seminoles was affected by the global pandemic, and the season ended abruptly with the Seminoles having a 3-6 record. Year 2 came around and saw Norvell change the program's standards, placing an emphasis on discipline and building around playmakers in all three phases. The Seminoles saw an improvement in 2021, ending the season with a 5–7 record.

All of Norvell's tactics bore fruit in 2022, as the offensive guru head coach led the Seminoles to their first 10-win season since 2016. The Seminoles essentially doubled their win total from the previous season and ended the year as the No. 11 ranked team according to the AP rankings.

Mike Norvell inspired his troops to an almost perfect season. The Seminoles went 13-1 in 2023 and were 8-0 against conference opponents. This was the first time since 2013 that the Seminoles ended a season unbeaten against conference opponents.

However, despite their near perfect regular season, the Seminoles were ranked number five in the AP Poll. Thus, they missed the college football playoffs, becoming the first undefeated Power Five conference champion to miss the playoffs. They lost their only game of the season to the Georgia Bulldogs in the Orange Bowl.

Norvell's team might be enduring a nightmarish 2024 season, but that's not to say that he's not a Florida State icon for the way he rebuilt the team. It'll be interesting to see how the Seminoles react at the end of the 2024 college football season, whether they decide to retain Norvell or go in a different direction.