Florida State University fires athletic director Michael Alford

Florida State University has terminated Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford. The decision was confirmed by FSU President Richard McCullough following reports from ESPN.

Alford’s tenure, which began in late 2021, was marked by both early success and significant controversy. While his leadership initially coincided with an undefeated 2023 regular season and an ACC championship, the football program experienced a sharp decline thereafter. A major point of contention was the long-term contract extension granted to head coach Mike Norvell, which left the university with a substantial financial commitment during a period of poor on-field performance.

Other controversial initiatives under Alford included the $265 million renovation of Doak Campbell Stadium. The project modernized infrastructure and increased premium seating but resulted in higher debt and a reduction in total stadium capacity from nearly 80,000 to between 65,000 and 70,000 seats. Alford also faced criticism regarding the university’s management of name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation and his public stances on the evolving economics of college athletics.