Sports · Football · 3 hrs ago
Florida State Set to Hire Jeff Purinton as Athletic Director
Florida State is set to hire alumnus Jeff Purinton as its athletic director, with an announcement expected Monday.
Purinton previously worked at Florida State and Alabama, led the athletic department at Arkansas State, and most recently was an executive vice president at Learfield.
His first major task will be hiring a football coach to replace Mike Norvell, who was fired last week after seven seasons.
Norvell's departure followed a 3-5 start to the season; Florida State has also fallen from playoff contention to the middle of the ACC in recent seasons.
The change follows the firing of athletic director Michael Alford in September, as the university sought a leader to modernize the department and increase revenue.
Purinton will also need to build support among donors and help the program compete for a place among college football's leading teams.
His SEC experience could help as Florida State weighs its conference future, but the team will need to show its strength on the field first.
Florida State is set to hire Jeff Purinton as its next athletic director, according to sources cited by ESPN and CBS Sports.
Purinton is a Florida State alumnus who has worked in athletics at Florida State, Alabama and Arkansas State, and most recently was an executive vice president at Learfield.
His first major task will be leading the search for a head football coach to replace Mike Norvell, who was fired last week.
Florida State fired athletic director Michael Alford in September.
An announcement of Purinton’s appointment was expected later Monday, according to ESPN.
- Who
- Jeff Purinton, a Florida State alumnus and former athletic director at Arkansas State.
- What
- Florida State is set to hire him as its next athletic director.
- When
- The reports were published Nov. 9, 2026; an announcement was expected later that Monday.
- Where
- Florida State in Tallahassee, Florida.
- Why
- The school is filling its athletic director position and needs a leader for the department, including the search for a new football coach.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Florida State fired athletic director Michael Alford.
Purinton became athletic director at Arkansas State.
Purinton left Arkansas State to become an executive vice president at Learfield.
Florida State fired football coach Mike Norvell.
Florida State won against Boston College in Rick Stockstill’s first game as interim coach.
ESPN and CBS Sports reported that Florida State was set to hire Purinton as athletic director.
- New athletic director
- Jeff Purinton
- Former Arkansas State role
- Athletic director, beginning in 2022
- Most recent employer
- Learfield
- Previous Florida State athletic director
- Michael Alford, fired in September
- Football coach to replace
- Mike Norvell