The FSU Seminoles have hired Jeff Purinton as their athletic director, and they have shifted their focus to finding their next head coach. He was the final piece they needed and is set to lead the search, alongside University President Richard McCullough, Board of Trustees Chair Peter Collins, and Daniel Parker of Parker Executive Search.
The work can get started in earnest, although Purinton admitted on Tuesday that most of the work will not be public, as coaches are never willing to have conversations with another school during the season. Some of that has already taken place, with one candidate signing an extension and removing his name from the race.
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The Seminoles will not have a ton of time to make the hire, with the early signing period set to start on Dec. 2, giving them just a few days to get someone in after they end the season against the Florida Gators on Nov. 27 and most teams ending the regular season on Nov. 28. The transfer portal, which will be key for FSU to rebuild its roster, will open on Jan.4.
Here is an updated look at the top names to watch as FSU football’s head coaching search continues, as well as candidates who have seemingly lost some steam.
Manny Diaz, Duke head coach
Oct 31, 2026; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz before kick off against the Boston College Eagles at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images
Diaz could be one of the biggest winners of the Purinton hire. The two started their career at FSU in the ’90s, and he has been heavily linked to the opening, going so far as to address it with his Duke team. He failed at Miami, but has excelled in his second stint as a head coach with several shrewd moves in the transfer portal. At 7-2, they are still alive in the ACC race, but have to beat Miami this week.
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Glenn Schumann, Georgia defensive coordinator
Nov 1, 2025; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann watches from the sideline against the Florida Gators at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images
If FSU does not hire a head coach, Schumann has emerged as the top coordinator to consider. Just like Diaz, he has worked with Purinton, with them both climbing the ranks at Alabama from 2008-15 until he followed Kirby Smart to Georgia. He has seen firsthand how the two best programs in modern college football have operated in Alabama and Georgia and looks ready to lead a program.
Jimbo Fisher, former FSU head coach
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher reacts to a play against the Oregon Ducks during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2015 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Fisher has made it abundantly clear that he wants to return to FSU, but it is unclear how enthusiastic FSU is about bringing him back. While he led FSU to the 2013 National Championship and a playoff berth in 2014, he has struggled ever since. He ultimately departed FSU in 2017 for Texas A&M, where he was fired in 2023 after going 45-25.
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Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State head coach
Sep 5, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham after the game against the Morgan State Bears at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Dillingham spent time at FSU under Mike Norvell and led Arizona State to the CFP in 2024. He has already turned down bigger jobs to stay with the Sun Devils, his alma mater, but it is worth seeing if the Seminoles can poach him, even if it is unlikely.
Jason Eck, New Mexico
Phoenix, AZ, USA; New Mexico Lobos head coach Jason Eck against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the Rate Bowl at Chase Field.
Eck has turned New Mexico into one of the top Group of Six schools over the past two years, going 17-5 overall. They have one of the best defenses in the country, and he is expected to garner interest from programs across the country. While he has never been at a big school, all he has done is win.
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Willie Fritz, Houston
Houston Cougars head coach Willie Fritz walks out with players before the game against Kansas State Wildcats inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas, on Oct. 10, 2026.
If FSU wants a proven head coach, it would be hard to find a better one than Fritz. Yes, he is older at 66, but he helped turn Tulane into one of the better Group of Six schools before taking over Houston, where he has once again piled up wins. It will likely take a lot to steal him from Houston.
Rhett Lashlee, SMU
Sep 28, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee during the game between the Southern Methodist Mustangs and the Florida State Seminoles at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Another candidate who could be tough to land is Lashlee, who has had a ton of success in the ACC since the Mustangs joined the league. He turned down his alma mater, Arkansas, last offseason, so it seems unlikely he is willing to leave SMU, but it does not hurt to try.
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Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri head coach
Oct 10, 2026; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz on field against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Drinkwitz said on the record that he is not a candidate for the job; the real question is whether that was true or he was trying to quiet the rumors and keep his team focused. He has turned Missouri into a consistent winner, but he has struggled against the teams at the top of the SEC and has to consider if a move elsewhere could give him better chances.
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Jake Dickert, Wake Forest Head Coach
Dickert was the first name mentioned as a possibility to sign an extension, with Wake Forest locking him up on Thursday, making it extremely unlikely he will leave.
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Charles Huff, Memphis Head Coach
Huff has guided Memphis to a 7-2 record, but there has not been a lot of buzz around him and the FSU opening. While he has won at multiple spots and can recruit, he has yet to be a head coach at the Power Four level.
Bob Chesney, UCLA Head Coach
Chesney has kept winning at UCLA, and it seems like the Bruins are doing their part to keep him in Westwood long term. If that extension is not signed, that could make him a realistic candidate.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU head coach hot board 2.0
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