Florida State fires athletic director amid scrutiny of football coach

Florida State University fired athletic director Michael Alford on Monday, a move widely seen as a precursor to potential changes for head football coach Mike Norvell. The university's board of trustees announced the dismissal, stating it was part of a necessary restructuring for the program's long-term future. Board chair Peter Collins and university president Richard McCullough emphasized the decision was not directly about the football coach. "This step begins the next phase of restructuring that the University must commit to in order to compete in this era of college sports," Collins said in a statement. The officials noted the move was made for the university's long-term prospects and not about a football coach with a 39-35 record. Despite the official separation, the firing has intensified scrutiny on Norvell's position. The coach's overall record at Florida State stands at 39-35, with a particularly sharp decline since the team's 2023 ACC Championship season. Since that campaign, the Seminoles have posted an 8-18 record, a downturn that has fueled fan frustration and booster concern.