Florida State fired athletic director Michael Alford on Monday, school president Richard McCullough announced. The move comes as the Seminoles grapple with looming decisions about their football program.
Alford came to Florida State in 2020 to lead its fundraising arm, Seminole Boosters, before being hired as athletic director less than two years later. Since 2022, total athletics revenue has grown 31.5%, the largest increase in department history. Conference distributions have also increased 19% thanks to a new revenue distribution model Alford spearheaded within the ACC.
Florida State invested over $500 million in athletics infrastructure, including a new standalone football facility and improvements to Doak Campbell Stadium. But the football program remains troubled. After going 13-0 and winning the ACC in 2023, Florida State did not make the College Football Playoff and lost 63-3 to Georgia in the Orange Bowl.
The Seminoles have gone 8-18 since that bowl loss, and calls to fire coach Mike Norvell have steadily increased. After going 5-7 last season, the Florida State administration opted to keep Norvell for a seventh season and pledged to make needed structural changes. Norvell hired a general manager, remade his personnel department and got a football budget in the neighborhood of $30 million.
Florida State had the highest athletic-related debt in the country for the 2025 fiscal year, totaling $437 million. Those inside the university believe Alford and Norvell underestimated how much spending on football was going to increase following the 2023 season. Alford was initially resistant to spend money above the new revenue share cap when it was enacted in 2025.
Make your Quick Picks
Pick up to 5 winners a day. Every one that lands is 10 points, and picks save as you make them. Free to play, and missing a day costs you nothing.
Today’s Lobby
