Former Texas, Houston, and Florida Atlantic head coach Tom Herman is set to join Mike Norvell’s staff at Florida State, according to multiple reports that surfaced this week.
Herman has been out of coaching since his firing at FAU in 2024, and this move marks his return to the college ranks in a support staff position for the 2026 season.
Reports indicate Herman’s title will be assistant to Norvell, suggesting he will lend his offensive expertise to a Florida State program in need of stability after a rough couple of seasons.
At 51 years old, Herman brings decades of experience calling plays at some of the sport’s highest levels, along with a resume that includes both major triumphs and painful setbacks.
A Career Full of Highs and Lows
Herman’s coaching journey has been anything but steady. He first made his name as offensive coordinator at Ohio State under Urban Meyer, helping the Buckeyes capture the program’s first College Football Playoff title after the 2014 season.
That performance earned him national recognition as the top assistant coach in the country that year.
From there, Herman took over as head coach at Houston, where he quickly turned things around and posted a strong record before Texas hired him away. His four seasons in Austin produced mixed results, and he was let go following a shortened 2020 campaign impacted by the pandemic.
After a stint as an offensive analyst with the Chicago Bears, Herman took his second head coaching job at Florida Atlantic, but the Owls struggled badly under his leadership. He was fired before the 2024 season wrapped up, and he has not held a coaching position since.
Why Norvell Needed the Help
The timing of this hire lines up with a critical moment for Norvell and the Seminoles program. Florida State finished 5-7 in 2025, part of a difficult two-year stretch that has put real pressure on the coaching staff heading into 2026.
Longtime offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn stepped away from the game this offseason after more than three decades of coaching, leaving Norvell to reclaim play-calling duties himself while promoting Tim Harris Jr. to run the offense.
Bringing in a coach with Herman’s background gives Norvell an experienced voice to lean on during a season where the stakes could not be higher.
Whether it is developing quarterback play, sharpening the game plan, or simply offering a second opinion in high-pressure moments, Herman’s presence adds depth to a staff that clearly wanted more firepower on offense.
It remains to be seen how big a role Herman will play behind the scenes, but for a program fighting to turn things around, added experience rarely hurts.
