Tom Herman Expected to Join Florida State Coaching Staff

What’s the Big News?

On Monday, July 13, 2026 (updated at 5:23 pm EDT), a person inside the Florida State football team told The Athletic newspaper that Tom Herman — a former head coach at the University of Texas — is expected to become a coach at Florida State University (often called FSU).

The person shared this secretly (anonymous) because the move isn’t official yet. A website called Warchant.com was the first to report this news.

Important: This hiring is not confirmed publicly by the school yet. It’s like hearing your friend will join a new club before the club makes an announcement.

Who Is Tom Herman? (Explained Like You’re 5)

Tom Herman is a 51-year-old football coach. Think of him as a teacher for a very big and fast sport. He has been the head coach (the big boss of the team) at three colleges:

• Houston
• Texas
• Florida Atlantic University (FAU)

In those three jobs added together, his teams won 60 games and lost 38 (written as 60-38). That’s like winning 60 gold stars and losing 38.

Most recently, he was the head coach at FAU. There, from 2023 to 2024, his team went 6-16 (6 wins, 16 losses). The photo caption from the original article mentions he did this in less than two full seasons — meaning he didn’t finish both years completely.

Tom Herman walks the field at Florida Atlantic. Credit: Reinhold Matay / Imagn Images

Tom Herman’s Coaching Journey (Step by Step)

Here’s a simple timeline of his jobs, like stepping stones:

1. Offensive Coordinator (the coach who plans how the team scores points) at smaller schools: Texas State, Rice, and Iowa State.
2. Hired by Urban Meyer at Ohio State as offensive coordinator. In 2014, he won the Broyles Award — that’s a trophy given to the best assistant coach in the whole country — while Ohio State won the national championship (the biggest prize).
3. Head Coach at Houston, then Texas (for four years), then FAU (2023-24).
4. In 2021, he worked for the Chicago Bears (a professional NFL team) as an offensive analyst — like a helper who studies plays but isn’t the main coach on the field.
5. Now, expected to join Florida State as a coach (exact role not specified yet, but likely helping with offense).

Why Is This Important for Florida State?

Florida State’s main coach is Mike Norvell. His team had a great year in 2023: they won 13 games and lost only 1, and just barely missed joining the final four-team tournament (College Football Playoff). But the last two years, they’ve struggled: 7 wins and 17 losses (7-17).

Norvell is trying to fix this. A year ago, he hired another former head coach, Gus Malzahn (who led Auburn and UCF teams), as the offensive coordinator. But Malzahn retired in February and was replaced by Tim Harris.

Now, adding Herman — who has lots of experience making offenses work — is another try to make the team win more.

Important: Florida State’s record the past two years (7-17) is much worse than their 2023 success (13-1). They are hoping Herman’s smart play-calling helps turn things around.

Key Facts to Remember

• Tom Herman age: 51
• Expected role: Coach at Florida State (staff member)
• Source: Anonymous team source to The Athletic, not official yet
• Past head-coach record: 60-38 at Houston, Texas, FAU
• Last job: FAU head coach, 6-16 in ~2 seasons
• FSU’s need: Improve after 7-17 in two years

Summary

Tom Herman, a well-traveled football coach who once led Texas and won a top assistant award at Ohio State, is expected to join Florida State’s coaching staff to help head coach Mike Norvell reboot a struggling program. Herman brings experience from many schools and even the NFL’s Chicago Bears. While the hire isn’t official yet, it follows FSU’s pattern of bringing in veteran offensive minds after a disappointing slump.

FAQ

1. What does a "head coach" do?
The head coach is the top leader of a football team. They make big decisions, lead practices, and are responsible for wins and losses — like the captain of a ship.

2. What is the Broyles Award?
It’s a special trophy given each year to the best assistant coach (not the main boss) in U.S. college football. Herman won it in 2014.

3. Why did Florida State want Tom Herman?
Because their team hasn’t won much lately (only 7 wins in two years), and Herman has a history of designing good offensive plays. They hope he helps them win more games.

4. Is the hiring confirmed?
Not yet. A secret source said it’s expected, and another website reported it first, but the school hasn’t made a public announcement.

5. What is an "offensive coordinator"?
That’s the coach who plans how the team tries to score points (the "offense"). They decide which plays to run, like choosing the best strategy in a video game.