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Compared with traditional powerhouses like Notre Dame, Ohio State and Southern Cal, Florida State’s football program is relatively young.
The Seminoles first fielded teams in the early 1900s, but the sport was discontinued for 42 years while the university operated as a women’s college.
FSU relaunched football in 1947 and, in the decades since, has emerged as a national powerhouse, winning three national championships — two under Bobby Bowden (1993, 1999) and one under Jimbo Fisher (2013).
The recent stretch has been more challenging under embattled coach Mike Norvell, now entering his seventh season in 2026. Still, he led the Seminoles to a 13-0 regular season in 2023 and the program’s first ACC championship since 2014.
Overall, the program’s rise to elite status has been an extraordinary ride for students, alumni and fans. That said, it also invites debate over the best coaching staffs of the Seminoles’ modern era.
Consider the success.
FSU ranks 11th all-time in winning percentage (.674) with an overall record of 563-277-16. The Seminoles have appeared in 47 bowl games and hold the NCAA record for consecutive bowl victories (11). They have produced three Heisman Trophy winners — Charlie Ward (1993), Chris Weinke (2000) and Jameis Winston (2013) — along with dozens of consensus All-Americans.
And, of course, the legendary Bowden is considered one of the greatest college coaches all-time.
While the formative years from 1947 to 1954 laid the foundation, Don Veller, Tom Nugent and Bill Peterson helped transform FSU into a legitimate national contender by 1970.
That momentum, however, was nearly derailed as FSU historians also remember the early 1970s as the program’s darkest period. Coaching struggles led to a 4-29 combined record from 1973 to 1975, and a winless 0-11 season in 1973.
Thankfully, the Seminoles rebounded with one of the most pivotal decisions in school history — hiring Bowden away from West Virginia.
Now, with that history in mind, it’s time for the Tallahassee Democrat’s picks for the top three football coaching staffs by chronological order in program history.
The 1967 season under coach Bill Peterson was defined by comebacks, shootouts, and milestones. The Seminoles finished 7-2-2 with a stunning tie at No. 2 Alabama, coached by Bear Bryant, and the program's first win at Florida.
Bill Peterson, Head Coach: Peterson was the Seminoles' coach from 1960-70, going 62-42-11. Coach Pete transformed FSU into a passing powerhouse, secured the program's first consensus All-Americans, and recruited the university's first Black varsity football players
Don Breaux, Offensive Chief: Breaux spent two seasons at FSU (1966–67) and remained closely tied to Bill Peterson and fellow assistant Joe Gibbs throughout his NFL career. He landed his firs62-t NFL job with the Houston Oilers in 1972 under Peterson and is best known for his 17 seasons working under Gibbs in Washington — from 1981 to 1993 and again as offensive coordinator from 2004 to 2007.
Joe Gibbs, Offensive Line: Hired from San Diego State, Gibbs coached at FSU for two seasons (1967-68). He also coached at Southern Cal and Arkansas before he transitioned into the NFL, winning three Super Bowls as head coach at Washington. Gibbs is also a successful NASCAR owner, founding Joe Gibbs Racing in 1992.
Bob Harbison, Defensive Chief. Coach "Harb" joined Don Veller's staff in 1948 and and spent most of his nearly 40 year coaching career with the Seminoles directing the offensive and defensive line. He was also FSU's first golf coach and is in the school's Hall of Fame.
Bobby Jackson, Defensive Ends, Linebackers: Jackson played for Bowden at South Georgia and Howard, where he routinely played the whole game at running back and defensive back, and coached at FSU under Peterson from 1965-69. Jackson also coached 21 years in the NFL with six different teams.
Gene McDowell, Freshman: McDowell, as a player at FSU in the early 1960s, was the program's most highly honored player as an AP third-team All-American. McDowell coached under Peterson from 1967-69, moved to Kansas and returned to FSU from 1974-84. He was named the head coach at UCF in 1985.
Neil Schmidt, Offensive Backfield: Schmidt coached at FSU from 1964-67; Gary Wyant, Defensive Backfield: Wyant later was an assistant coach and longtime athletics administrator at Tennessee Al Conover, Graduate Assistant: Conover later served as head coach at Rice from 1972-75.
The 1993 team marked the beginning of the championship dynasty Bobby Bowden envisioned when he took over the program in 1976. The Seminoles defeated Nebraska to secure the first consensus national championship in school history and finished 12-1. Ward also became the program's first Heisman Trophy winner. Bobby Bowden, Head Coach: Bowden is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history. He led Florida State from 1976-2009, compiling a 377-129-4 record. The Hall of Fame coach built one of the nation's most consistent programs, producing NFL talent and All-Americans while winning two national championships and recruiting heavily throughout Florida.
Brad Scott, Offensive Coordinator: Scott joined Bowden's staff as a graduate assistant in 1983 and climbed the ranks from tight ends coach (1985-89) to offensive coordinator and offensive line coach (1990-93). He helped develop FSU's "Fast Break" offense and coached Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward during the Seminoles' 1993 championship season. Scott later served as South Carolina's head coach from 1994-98, posting a 23-32-1 record. He spent 12 years at Clemson as an associate coach before transitioning into the athletics department as an assistant athletic director. He later joined South Florida in a football administration role.Mark Richt, Quarterbacks Coach: Richt began his coaching career under Bowden as a graduate assistant in 1985. After serving one season as offensive coordinator at East Carolina, he returned to Florida State as quarterbacks coach from 1990-93. He succeeded Scott as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1994-2000. Richt later became head coach at Georgia (2001-15), winning two SEC championships, before returning to his alma mater, Miami, where he coached from 2016-18. He finished with a 171-64 record as a head coach and currently works as an analyst for ACC Network.Billy Sexton, Running Backs Coach: Sexton served on Bowden's staff from 1977-2006, spending more than two decades as running backs coach after coaching quarterbacks during his first five seasons. He developed several future first-round NFL draft picks, including Warrick Dunn, William Floyd, Dexter Carter and Sammie Smith. Following retirement, Sexton remained in Tallahassee. His son, Wyatt, later played quarterback at Leon High School and Florida State.John Eason, Wide Receivers Coach: A former standout player at Florida A&M, Eason spent four years playing professionally before joining Bowden's staff in 1981. He coached wide receivers through 1994 while also serving as assistant athletic director for academic and student affairs. Eason followed Scott to South Carolina as offensive coordinator from 1995-98. He later worked at UCF before joining Richt's staff at Georgia in 2001 as wide receivers coach and assistant head coach. Eason eventually became associate head coach, director of football operations and director of player development. He later returned to Florida A&M as athletic director from 2017-19.Mickey Andrews, Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach: Andrews served as Florida State's defensive coordinator from 1984-2001 and associate head coach from 2002-09. Widely considered Bowden's top lieutenant, Andrews developed numerous All-Americans and NFL defensive backs, including multiple Jim Thorpe Award winners. He played a major role in both of FSU national championship teams. Andrews remained connected to the program as a special assistant before officially retiring. He continues to reside in Tallahassee.Chuck Amato, Defensive Line/Assistant Head Coach: Amato worked on FSU's staff from 1982-99, coaching the defensive line and later linebackers while also serving as associate head coach. He became head coach at NC State from 2000-06, compiling a 49-37 record and a 4-1 bowl mark. Amato returned to Florida State from 2007-09 as associate head coach and linebackers coach during Bowden's final seasons. He later served as defensive coordinator at Akron from 2012-17 before retiring in 2018.Brief: Longtime Bowden assistant who enjoyed success as NC State's head coach.Wally Burnham, Inside Linebackers Coach: Burnham coached linebackers at FSU rom 1985-93, helping the Seminoles win their first national championship. He later became defensive coordinator at South Carolina, South Florida and Iowa State. Burnham also served as assistant head coach at both South Carolina and South Florida before briefly coming out of retirement as a defensive analyst at Arkansas in 2016.Jim Gladden, Outside Linebackers Coach: Gladden joined the Florida State program in 1975 as a graduate assistant under Darrell Mudra and remained on staff when Bowden arrived in 1976. He coached outside linebackers from 1976-95 and later coached defensive ends and special teams through 2001. His 1984 punt-block unit set program records with eight blocked punts and five touchdowns off blocked punts. Among the stars he recruited and coached were Derrick Brooks, Peter Boulware, Reinard Wilson, Andre Wadsworth and Jamal Reynolds.Dave Van Halanger, Strength and Conditioning Coach: Van Halanger served as Florida State's strength and conditioning coach from 1983-2000 and was a key contributor during the Seminoles' dynasty years and two national championship seasons. A former West Virginia offensive lineman, he was inducted into the Strength Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003. He later joined Richt's staff at Georgia, serving in the same role through 2010. Van Halanger died of a heart attack in 2023.
Compiled by Peter Holland
The Seminoles and Fisher were flawless, finishing 14-0 and rallying to beat Auburn to win the final BCS National Championship. Winston became the first freshman in FBS history to win the Heisman Trophy and FSU put together one of the most statistically dominant season in college football history. The offense scored 723 points, averaged 51.6 points per game and recorded a margin of victory of 39.5 points.
Jimbo Fisher, Head Coach: Jimbo Fisher led the Seminoles from 2010 to 2017, replacing the legendary Bobby Bowden. Fisher was highly successful as the program's head coach, compiling an 83-23 record, which included an undefeated 14-0 record in the national title-winning 2013 season. Fisher won five bowl games as the Seminoles' head coach and only had one season with fewer than nine wins as he built a consistent powerhouse in Tallahassee.
Rick Trickett, Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Line: Rick Trickett spent 10 years with FSU and was the assistant head coach and a highly touted offensive line coach, who currently serves in the same role at West Virginia. He consistently produced some of the nation's top offensive line units for the Seminoles, and in 2013, he had players like Bryan Stork and Cameron Erving, a converted defensive lineman, lead the line for the program's historic offense.
Tim Brewster, Recruiting Coordinator / Tight Ends Coach: Tim Brewster joined the program in 2013 and was with the program until 2017, playing a big part in recruiting efforts and serving as the tight ends coach. One of the nation's best recruiters while in Tallahassee, he helped the Seminoles land multiple top recruiting classes and helped develop players like Nick O'Leary into premier tight ends.
Lawrence Dawsey, Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach: Lawrence Dawsey was part of the Seminoles coaching staff from 2007-2017, holding multiple roles. During the 2013 season, he was the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach, with receivers like Kelvin Benjamin and Rashad Greene among the best players in the country, and both were 1,000+ yard receivers.
Jay Graham, Running Backs Coach: Serving as the running backs coach, Jay Graham was with the Seminoles program from 2013 to 2017. He helped develop Devonta Freeman, who rushed for 1,016 yards and 14 touchdowns in the 2013 season, and Karlos Williams, who rushed for 730 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Randy Sanders, Quarterbacks Coach: A member of the Seminoles coaching staff from 2013-2017, Randy Sanders helped the program put together historic offenses and worked with Winston to develop him into one of the nation's best quarterbacks and future No. 1 overall pick. After his time in Tallahassee, he served as the head coach at East Tennessee State until 2021.
Jeremy Pruitt, Defensive Coordinator: Jeremy Pruitt spent one season in Tallahassee, serving as the defensive coordinator. The Seminoles had a dominant defense, allowing 12.1 points per game, and were led by Telvin Smith, Lamarcus Joyner and Jalen Ramsey, among others. Pruitt went on to be the defensive coordinator at Georgia and Alabama before becoming the head coach at Tennessee.
Odell Haggins, Defensive Tackles Coach: Odell Haggins' name is synonymous with FSU, and he remains with the program in 2026. During the 2013 season, he was responsible for the defensive tackles, and he helped the development of Timmy Jernigan and Jacobbi McDaniel. Haggins, who played for the team from 1985-1989, has been a coach within the Seminoles program since 1994 and now serves as associate head coach.
Charles Kelly, Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers Coach: Charles Kelly served as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach in 2013 before taking the defensive coordinator role from 2014 to 2017. Kelly oversaw a dynamic special teams unit, which helped them win the 2013 national title, before his transition to defensive coordinator. He is currently the head coach at Jacksonville State.
Sal Sunseri, Defensive Ends Coach: Sal Sunseri spent two seasons with FSU, and he helped the Seminoles develop players like Mario Edwards Jr. and Demarcus Walker. After FSU, Sunseri had stints in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders before stops at Florida, Alabama and Colorado.
Vic Viloria, Strength Coach: Vic Viloria served as the program's strength coach from 2010 to 2017, and he helped integrate GPS technology into the Seminoles' workouts to track performance data. He has served in the same position at LSU, part of the national title-winning team in 2019, and at Baylor since his departure from FSU.
Compiled by Liam Rooney
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Top 3 coaching staffs that defined Florida State Seminoles football
Continue reading...
The Seminoles first fielded teams in the early 1900s, but the sport was discontinued for 42 years while the university operated as a women’s college.
FSU relaunched football in 1947 and, in the decades since, has emerged as a national powerhouse, winning three national championships — two under Bobby Bowden (1993, 1999) and one under Jimbo Fisher (2013).
The recent stretch has been more challenging under embattled coach Mike Norvell, now entering his seventh season in 2026. Still, he led the Seminoles to a 13-0 regular season in 2023 and the program’s first ACC championship since 2014.
Overall, the program’s rise to elite status has been an extraordinary ride for students, alumni and fans. That said, it also invites debate over the best coaching staffs of the Seminoles’ modern era.
Consider the success.
FSU ranks 11th all-time in winning percentage (.674) with an overall record of 563-277-16. The Seminoles have appeared in 47 bowl games and hold the NCAA record for consecutive bowl victories (11). They have produced three Heisman Trophy winners — Charlie Ward (1993), Chris Weinke (2000) and Jameis Winston (2013) — along with dozens of consensus All-Americans.
And, of course, the legendary Bowden is considered one of the greatest college coaches all-time.
While the formative years from 1947 to 1954 laid the foundation, Don Veller, Tom Nugent and Bill Peterson helped transform FSU into a legitimate national contender by 1970.
That momentum, however, was nearly derailed as FSU historians also remember the early 1970s as the program’s darkest period. Coaching struggles led to a 4-29 combined record from 1973 to 1975, and a winless 0-11 season in 1973.
Thankfully, the Seminoles rebounded with one of the most pivotal decisions in school history — hiring Bowden away from West Virginia.
Now, with that history in mind, it’s time for the Tallahassee Democrat’s picks for the top three football coaching staffs by chronological order in program history.
Vote: Which FSU football coaching staff is the best?
Here's a look at FSU football's 1967 staff and its accomplishments
The 1967 season under coach Bill Peterson was defined by comebacks, shootouts, and milestones. The Seminoles finished 7-2-2 with a stunning tie at No. 2 Alabama, coached by Bear Bryant, and the program's first win at Florida.
Bill Peterson, Head Coach: Peterson was the Seminoles' coach from 1960-70, going 62-42-11. Coach Pete transformed FSU into a passing powerhouse, secured the program's first consensus All-Americans, and recruited the university's first Black varsity football players
Don Breaux, Offensive Chief: Breaux spent two seasons at FSU (1966–67) and remained closely tied to Bill Peterson and fellow assistant Joe Gibbs throughout his NFL career. He landed his firs62-t NFL job with the Houston Oilers in 1972 under Peterson and is best known for his 17 seasons working under Gibbs in Washington — from 1981 to 1993 and again as offensive coordinator from 2004 to 2007.
Joe Gibbs, Offensive Line: Hired from San Diego State, Gibbs coached at FSU for two seasons (1967-68). He also coached at Southern Cal and Arkansas before he transitioned into the NFL, winning three Super Bowls as head coach at Washington. Gibbs is also a successful NASCAR owner, founding Joe Gibbs Racing in 1992.
Bob Harbison, Defensive Chief. Coach "Harb" joined Don Veller's staff in 1948 and and spent most of his nearly 40 year coaching career with the Seminoles directing the offensive and defensive line. He was also FSU's first golf coach and is in the school's Hall of Fame.
Bobby Jackson, Defensive Ends, Linebackers: Jackson played for Bowden at South Georgia and Howard, where he routinely played the whole game at running back and defensive back, and coached at FSU under Peterson from 1965-69. Jackson also coached 21 years in the NFL with six different teams.
Gene McDowell, Freshman: McDowell, as a player at FSU in the early 1960s, was the program's most highly honored player as an AP third-team All-American. McDowell coached under Peterson from 1967-69, moved to Kansas and returned to FSU from 1974-84. He was named the head coach at UCF in 1985.
Neil Schmidt, Offensive Backfield: Schmidt coached at FSU from 1964-67; Gary Wyant, Defensive Backfield: Wyant later was an assistant coach and longtime athletics administrator at Tennessee Al Conover, Graduate Assistant: Conover later served as head coach at Rice from 1972-75.
Here's a look at FSU football's 1993 staff and accomplishments
The 1993 team marked the beginning of the championship dynasty Bobby Bowden envisioned when he took over the program in 1976. The Seminoles defeated Nebraska to secure the first consensus national championship in school history and finished 12-1. Ward also became the program's first Heisman Trophy winner. Bobby Bowden, Head Coach: Bowden is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history. He led Florida State from 1976-2009, compiling a 377-129-4 record. The Hall of Fame coach built one of the nation's most consistent programs, producing NFL talent and All-Americans while winning two national championships and recruiting heavily throughout Florida.
Brad Scott, Offensive Coordinator: Scott joined Bowden's staff as a graduate assistant in 1983 and climbed the ranks from tight ends coach (1985-89) to offensive coordinator and offensive line coach (1990-93). He helped develop FSU's "Fast Break" offense and coached Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward during the Seminoles' 1993 championship season. Scott later served as South Carolina's head coach from 1994-98, posting a 23-32-1 record. He spent 12 years at Clemson as an associate coach before transitioning into the athletics department as an assistant athletic director. He later joined South Florida in a football administration role.Mark Richt, Quarterbacks Coach: Richt began his coaching career under Bowden as a graduate assistant in 1985. After serving one season as offensive coordinator at East Carolina, he returned to Florida State as quarterbacks coach from 1990-93. He succeeded Scott as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1994-2000. Richt later became head coach at Georgia (2001-15), winning two SEC championships, before returning to his alma mater, Miami, where he coached from 2016-18. He finished with a 171-64 record as a head coach and currently works as an analyst for ACC Network.Billy Sexton, Running Backs Coach: Sexton served on Bowden's staff from 1977-2006, spending more than two decades as running backs coach after coaching quarterbacks during his first five seasons. He developed several future first-round NFL draft picks, including Warrick Dunn, William Floyd, Dexter Carter and Sammie Smith. Following retirement, Sexton remained in Tallahassee. His son, Wyatt, later played quarterback at Leon High School and Florida State.John Eason, Wide Receivers Coach: A former standout player at Florida A&M, Eason spent four years playing professionally before joining Bowden's staff in 1981. He coached wide receivers through 1994 while also serving as assistant athletic director for academic and student affairs. Eason followed Scott to South Carolina as offensive coordinator from 1995-98. He later worked at UCF before joining Richt's staff at Georgia in 2001 as wide receivers coach and assistant head coach. Eason eventually became associate head coach, director of football operations and director of player development. He later returned to Florida A&M as athletic director from 2017-19.Mickey Andrews, Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach: Andrews served as Florida State's defensive coordinator from 1984-2001 and associate head coach from 2002-09. Widely considered Bowden's top lieutenant, Andrews developed numerous All-Americans and NFL defensive backs, including multiple Jim Thorpe Award winners. He played a major role in both of FSU national championship teams. Andrews remained connected to the program as a special assistant before officially retiring. He continues to reside in Tallahassee.Chuck Amato, Defensive Line/Assistant Head Coach: Amato worked on FSU's staff from 1982-99, coaching the defensive line and later linebackers while also serving as associate head coach. He became head coach at NC State from 2000-06, compiling a 49-37 record and a 4-1 bowl mark. Amato returned to Florida State from 2007-09 as associate head coach and linebackers coach during Bowden's final seasons. He later served as defensive coordinator at Akron from 2012-17 before retiring in 2018.Brief: Longtime Bowden assistant who enjoyed success as NC State's head coach.Wally Burnham, Inside Linebackers Coach: Burnham coached linebackers at FSU rom 1985-93, helping the Seminoles win their first national championship. He later became defensive coordinator at South Carolina, South Florida and Iowa State. Burnham also served as assistant head coach at both South Carolina and South Florida before briefly coming out of retirement as a defensive analyst at Arkansas in 2016.Jim Gladden, Outside Linebackers Coach: Gladden joined the Florida State program in 1975 as a graduate assistant under Darrell Mudra and remained on staff when Bowden arrived in 1976. He coached outside linebackers from 1976-95 and later coached defensive ends and special teams through 2001. His 1984 punt-block unit set program records with eight blocked punts and five touchdowns off blocked punts. Among the stars he recruited and coached were Derrick Brooks, Peter Boulware, Reinard Wilson, Andre Wadsworth and Jamal Reynolds.Dave Van Halanger, Strength and Conditioning Coach: Van Halanger served as Florida State's strength and conditioning coach from 1983-2000 and was a key contributor during the Seminoles' dynasty years and two national championship seasons. A former West Virginia offensive lineman, he was inducted into the Strength Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003. He later joined Richt's staff at Georgia, serving in the same role through 2010. Van Halanger died of a heart attack in 2023.
Compiled by Peter Holland
Here's a look at FSU football's 2013 staff and accomplishments
The Seminoles and Fisher were flawless, finishing 14-0 and rallying to beat Auburn to win the final BCS National Championship. Winston became the first freshman in FBS history to win the Heisman Trophy and FSU put together one of the most statistically dominant season in college football history. The offense scored 723 points, averaged 51.6 points per game and recorded a margin of victory of 39.5 points.
Jimbo Fisher, Head Coach: Jimbo Fisher led the Seminoles from 2010 to 2017, replacing the legendary Bobby Bowden. Fisher was highly successful as the program's head coach, compiling an 83-23 record, which included an undefeated 14-0 record in the national title-winning 2013 season. Fisher won five bowl games as the Seminoles' head coach and only had one season with fewer than nine wins as he built a consistent powerhouse in Tallahassee.
Rick Trickett, Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Line: Rick Trickett spent 10 years with FSU and was the assistant head coach and a highly touted offensive line coach, who currently serves in the same role at West Virginia. He consistently produced some of the nation's top offensive line units for the Seminoles, and in 2013, he had players like Bryan Stork and Cameron Erving, a converted defensive lineman, lead the line for the program's historic offense.
Tim Brewster, Recruiting Coordinator / Tight Ends Coach: Tim Brewster joined the program in 2013 and was with the program until 2017, playing a big part in recruiting efforts and serving as the tight ends coach. One of the nation's best recruiters while in Tallahassee, he helped the Seminoles land multiple top recruiting classes and helped develop players like Nick O'Leary into premier tight ends.
Lawrence Dawsey, Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach: Lawrence Dawsey was part of the Seminoles coaching staff from 2007-2017, holding multiple roles. During the 2013 season, he was the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach, with receivers like Kelvin Benjamin and Rashad Greene among the best players in the country, and both were 1,000+ yard receivers.
Jay Graham, Running Backs Coach: Serving as the running backs coach, Jay Graham was with the Seminoles program from 2013 to 2017. He helped develop Devonta Freeman, who rushed for 1,016 yards and 14 touchdowns in the 2013 season, and Karlos Williams, who rushed for 730 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Randy Sanders, Quarterbacks Coach: A member of the Seminoles coaching staff from 2013-2017, Randy Sanders helped the program put together historic offenses and worked with Winston to develop him into one of the nation's best quarterbacks and future No. 1 overall pick. After his time in Tallahassee, he served as the head coach at East Tennessee State until 2021.
Jeremy Pruitt, Defensive Coordinator: Jeremy Pruitt spent one season in Tallahassee, serving as the defensive coordinator. The Seminoles had a dominant defense, allowing 12.1 points per game, and were led by Telvin Smith, Lamarcus Joyner and Jalen Ramsey, among others. Pruitt went on to be the defensive coordinator at Georgia and Alabama before becoming the head coach at Tennessee.
Odell Haggins, Defensive Tackles Coach: Odell Haggins' name is synonymous with FSU, and he remains with the program in 2026. During the 2013 season, he was responsible for the defensive tackles, and he helped the development of Timmy Jernigan and Jacobbi McDaniel. Haggins, who played for the team from 1985-1989, has been a coach within the Seminoles program since 1994 and now serves as associate head coach.
Charles Kelly, Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers Coach: Charles Kelly served as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach in 2013 before taking the defensive coordinator role from 2014 to 2017. Kelly oversaw a dynamic special teams unit, which helped them win the 2013 national title, before his transition to defensive coordinator. He is currently the head coach at Jacksonville State.
Sal Sunseri, Defensive Ends Coach: Sal Sunseri spent two seasons with FSU, and he helped the Seminoles develop players like Mario Edwards Jr. and Demarcus Walker. After FSU, Sunseri had stints in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders before stops at Florida, Alabama and Colorado.
Vic Viloria, Strength Coach: Vic Viloria served as the program's strength coach from 2010 to 2017, and he helped integrate GPS technology into the Seminoles' workouts to track performance data. He has served in the same position at LSU, part of the national title-winning team in 2019, and at Baylor since his departure from FSU.
Compiled by Liam Rooney
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Top 3 coaching staffs that defined Florida State Seminoles football
Continue reading...
