The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Florida State: a football coaching history

Power Program II#18 of 138–
See Florida State’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →
← all coaches
Program GOAT
Bobby Bowden
0 Dynasty · 17 Blue-Blood seasons
Built by
Bobby Bowden
National Program III → Blue Blood (+61.0)
The fall
Mike Norvell
Blue Blood → Power Program II (−10.4)
Right now
Mike Norvell
the 3rd-best of Florida State's 6 coaches so far

Stature & coaches, 1954–2026

The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.

program stature (★ = Dynasty-tier season)VellerNugentPetersonBowdenFisherNorvell1960198020002020

Every coach

2020–now
Mike Norvellinheritor
Mike Norvell inherited a Blue Blood Florida State and won with it.
−10.4
38–34
2018–2019
Willie Taggartshort tenure
9–12
2017–2019
Odell Hagginsshort tenure
4–2
2010–2017
Jimbo Fishertransformer
Jimbo Fisher took Florida State from Blue Blood to Blue Blood.
+12.1
83–23
1976–2009
Bobby Bowdentransformer
Bobby Bowden took Florida State from National Program III to Blue Blood.
+61.0
315–98
1974–1975
Darrell Mudrashort tenure
4–18
1971–1973
Larry Jonescaretaker
Larry Jones held Florida State at National Program I for 3 seasons.
National Program I
15–19
1960–1970
Bill Petersonbuilder
Bill Peterson raised Florida State from Regional Program I to Power Program III.
+19.8
62–42
1959–1959
Perry Mossshort tenure
4–6
1953–1958
Thomas Nugentcaretaker
Thomas Nugent held Florida State at Regional Program I for 5 seasons.
Regional Program I
34–28
1948–1952
Don Vellershort tenure
31–12
1947–1947
Ed Williamsonshort tenure
0–5