Getty Image / Kevin C. Cox
The University of Alabama‘s search for Nick Saban’s successor is proving to be more complicated than it appeared to be on paper after two more of the school’s top coaching targets turned down the Crimson Tide.
In the immediate aftermath of Nick Saban‘s retirement, the College Football world was convinced Oregon’s Dan Lanning would be the next Bama head coach. Then on Thursday morning, Dan Lanning shared a video saying he was sticking with Oregon.
After that, the focus shifted to Washington’s Kalen DeBoer, Steve Sarkisian at Texas, Florida State’s Mike Norvell, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, and Maryland’s Mike Locksley has emerged as a dark horse candidate. As of this hour, Mike Norvell‘s name is officially off of Alabama’s ‘Next Head Coach’ search list along with Steve Sarkisian after both announced they were staying put.
FSU AD Michael Alford teased the Mike Norvell announcement with the ‘new pope selection’ GIF:
🍢 🤝 @PresMcCullough @Coach_Norvell #OneTribe pic.twitter.com/zEi6phW8lD
— Michael Alford (@SeminoleAlford) January 12, 2024
Mike Norvell who led the Seminoles to an undefeated regular season followed up with this message reaffirming his commitment to Tallahassee and building the Seminoles back into the juggernaut program they were under Bobby Bowden:
GREAT DAY to be a FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLE!! The #CLIMBContinues grateful for to lead the #NoleFamily with our incredible staff. Appreciate @PresMcCullough @SeminoleAlford and @Seminoles for continued commitment on our journey back to the TOP! The Future is bright in Tallahassee 😎 pic.twitter.com/maUJ1uuyio
— Mike Norvell (@Coach_Norvell) January 12, 2024
According to Ross Dellenger, FSU has signed Mike Norvell to a new 8-year contract that will pay him over $10 million/year. Norvell had just signed an extension in 2023 so this represents a massive commitment from Florida State University in their head coach.
Hours before, Steve Sarkisian shared his own ‘I’m not leaving’ hype video:
Just getting started 🤘@CoachSark pic.twitter.com/YAh8mj8dTe
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 12, 2024
Search For Alabama’s Next Head Coach Continues
Yesterday, we asked AI to predict who the next Alabama head coach will be. Those results can be seen here. Norvell and Sark’s names were both picked by the computers.
I can’t speak to how Longhorn Nation is feeling right now but as a Florida State alum and lifelong Seminoles fan I can say the relief is palpable. There was a lot of nervous chatter the past few days about how much the program would be set back if Mike Norvell left for Alabama.
It is unclear of the NCAA’s sanctions on FSU related to NIL violations factored into Mike Norvell’s decision to stay or go. But Norvell’s agent was in Tuscaloosa yesterday meeting with University of Alabama decisions makers.
That said, Jimmy Sexton represents everybody who is anybody in College Football. He could have been there meeting on behalf of just about any decent coach in College Football.