In a bold move responding to a disappointing season, Florida State University announced on Sunday night the departure of three key football
coaches: offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Alex Atkins, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller, and wide receivers coach Ron
Dugans. The decision comes after a challenging season marked by a 1-9 record, struggles on the field, and a series of setbacks in recruiting,
including the loss of four commitments since October—three of which were highly ranked wide receiver prospects.
The timing of these firings is particularly significant due to the new early signing period for college football, which has been moved up to
December 4. This change has pushed programs to make decisions about staff changes much earlier than in previous years, in order to retain
recruits and solidify commitments before the early signing window. With less than a month to go before the early signing period, Florida State’s
coaching shake-up reflects the urgency felt by many programs to adapt to the new recruiting timeline.
The Seminoles’ move is part of a broader trend in college football, as several schools across the country have already made coaching changes
in November, with Florida schools like UCF and FAU also parting ways with defensive coordinators in recent weeks. Nationally,
multiple programs, including Rice, Kennesaw State, Southern Miss, and East Carolina, have dismissed their head coaches. With the new
recruiting landscape, more coaching changes are expected in the coming weeks as programs scramble to preserve their recruiting classes.
For Florida State, the decision to part ways with Atkins, Fuller, and Dugans signals a critical moment for head coach Mike Norvell and his
staff. With recruiting in flux, the Seminoles are now faced with the task of stabilizing their current class and convincing top prospects to
stay committed, especially in the wake of Dugans’ struggles to retain talent at the wide receiver position. The departures of several
high-profile recruits, including four-star wide receivers Malik Clark, Daylan McCutcheon, and CJ Wiley, have further complicated matters.
Dugans, who played a key role in FSU’s 1999 national championship team, has faced challenges in keeping recruits, with some former
players reportedly advising prospects to avoid playing under him. Meanwhile, FSU’s wide receiver group has been one of the team’s most notable struggles this season, contributing to Dugans’ exit.
Looking ahead, Florida State faces significant challenges in rebuilding its receiving corps, especially with the loss of key commitments and the uncertain future of the coaching staff. The Seminoles’ incoming 2025 class includes highly sought-after offensive line recruits, and securing these commitments will be a priority, especially after Atkins’ departure. Notably, Solomon Thomas, a top recruit in the class, expressed disappointment over the firing of Atkins on social media, adding to the pressure on the Seminoles to retain their remaining commits.
FSU is also working to defend its defense commitments, including four-star defensive lineman Kevin Wynn and cornerback Zae Thomas, while keeping an eye on potential flips, such as Cocoa’s Jayvan Boggs, who is currently committed to UCF.
As Florida State prepares for the early signing period, the Seminoles are focused on stabilizing their recruiting efforts amid ongoing changes and challenges, with further coaching staff decisions likely to follow in the weeks ahead.