Florida State could find itself searching for a new head coach if Mike Norvell fails to turn the Seminoles’ fortunes around, and two familiar names from Auburn’s coaching history are already being mentioned as potential candidates.
Former Auburn offensive coordinators Rhett Lashlee and Kenny Dillingham have emerged as two of the more intriguing possibilities if Florida State ultimately decides to move on from Norvell. Both coaches have offensive expertise, recruiting experience and previous ties to major college football programs, making them logical names for a Seminoles coaching search.
The speculation comes as pressure continues to surround Norvell following Florida State’s dramatic decline after its undefeated 2023 regular season. While there is no guarantee that the Seminoles will make a coaching change, the possibility has prompted early discussion about who could potentially take over if the program decides a new direction is necessary.
Lashlee would be an ambitious target
Lashlee, currently leading SMU, could be one of the most attractive offensive-minded candidates available to Florida State. He has already demonstrated that he can build a productive program and has strong familiarity with the ACC after SMU’s move into the conference.
However, actually convincing him to leave Dallas could be extremely difficult.
SMU has invested heavily in its football operation and has developed into a legitimate contender. The program has access to significant financial resources, a strong donor base and a growing recruiting operation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Lashlee also has considerable momentum after helping elevate the Mustangs into a more prominent national program.
Florida State, meanwhile, would have to overcome financial challenges and the cost associated with buying out Norvell’s contract. The Seminoles also face a significant resource gap compared with the nation’s wealthiest programs.
That makes Lashlee an attractive target in theory but a difficult candidate to land in practice. Florida State could certainly make the call, but the chances of Lashlee abandoning what he has built at SMU appear limited.
Dillingham presents a more complicated possibility
Kenny Dillingham could be a more realistic name because of his previous connection to Florida State. Dillingham worked under Norvell in Tallahassee during the 2020 and 2021 seasons before eventually taking over at Arizona State.
Since becoming the Sun Devils’ head coach, Dillingham has transformed the program and helped establish Arizona State as a serious contender. He also chose to remain at his alma mater this offseason despite reportedly attracting interest from other major programs, including Michigan.
That decision suggests Dillingham is invested in what he is building in Tempe.
Arizona State may not possess the same national prestige as Florida State, but Dillingham has helped create a program where expectations are rising and the path to the College Football Playoff could be manageable within the Big 12.
A move back to Tallahassee would therefore come with significant advantages but also enormous pressure.
Florida State would still have to convince him
Florida State remains the more recognizable national brand, but the job would come with considerably greater expectations. Dillingham is already highly regarded at Arizona State, while taking over at Florida State would immediately place him under pressure to restore the program to the level it reached during its spectacular 2023 campaign.
He would also face a challenging recruiting environment in Florida, where programs such as Miami and Florida compete aggressively for elite talent, while national powers continue to target prospects across the state.
Still, Dillingham’s familiarity with Florida State makes him particularly interesting. He knows the program, understands the expectations and has already worked alongside Norvell.
Auburn connections could become significant
The connection between both candidates and Auburn makes this potential coaching search especially intriguing. Lashlee and Dillingham each previously served as Auburn offensive coordinators, giving the Tigers an unusual connection to two coaches who could potentially become candidates for one of the ACC’s most prominent jobs.
For now, the future of Norvell remains the key factor. If Florida State improves significantly, the coaching-search speculation could disappear quickly. But if the Seminoles continue to struggle, Lashlee and Dillingham could become two names worth watching closely.
Among the two, Dillingham appears to be the more realistic possibility, while Lashlee would likely be the bigger long-shot target given his success and situation at SMU.
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