The Florida State Seminoles' head coaching search is well underway as the university looks to move past the Mike Norvell era.

Many candidates' names have been tossed into the arena, with some ranging from highly unlikely to others hitting closer to home.

Many fans will remember the Bob Stoops mania after the Seminoles moved on from Willie Taggart; however, more realistic options have landed on the university president's desk. Florida State is less than two weeks into its search for Norvell’s replacement, and one of the first coaches linked to the job has decided to stay put.

Jake Dickert Signs Extension With Wake Forest

It’s easy to see why Dickert’s name came up in Tallahassee. He won nine games in his first season at Wake Forest, the most by a first-year coach in program history, and has the Demon Deacons at 8-1 and ranked No. 11 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings.

Dickert made his intentions clear before the deal was announced. While talks were still ongoing, he told FOX Sports’ Ben Portnoy that keeping his staff and players together was his priority.

“We didn’t come here to leave,” Dickert told FOX Sports.

Wake Forest is the kind of program College Football Inc. is determined to weed out.

But backed by industry titans and an effervescent head coach everyone wants, the Deacs are on the cusp of a CFP berth.

“We didn't come here to leave."https://t.co/hceud9oqTX

— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) November 12, 2026

A Shot in the Dark

Florida State's administration has made it abundantly clear that the vacancy will be filled sooner rather than later.

Whatever names are being tossed around are speculation at best, as new Athletic Director Jeff Purinton vets candidates. The top brass in Garnet and Gold have been tight-lipped about the direction they're going.

An acting coach with a winning attitude is the verbal composite sketch that fans are left with, and rightfully so. Targeting an active coach takes finesse, especially a winning one that has postseason aspirations on the line.

NoleGameday had Dickert and Duke head coach Manny Diaz among its early candidates for the job. Diaz, a Florida State graduate who led Duke to the ACC title last season, told his players earlier this month that he was happy in Durham.

Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann has also been linked to the job. He and new Florida State athletic director Jeff Purinton overlapped at Alabama, and at his introductory press conference Tuesday, Purinton said he would weigh how candidates evaluate recruits, motivate their players, and get their teams to perform on Saturdays.

UCLA's Bob Chesney, Kentucky's Will Stein, Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham, and New Mexico's Jason Eck, alongside former head coach Jimbo Fisher, are also likely names in the pile.

Whoever the next man up in the City of Seven Hills ends up being, FSU's next head coach will have both the resources and facilities to attract top recruits; the caveat is that they must win football games, or risk falling into the next lost decade.

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