The continuity of Florida State's coaching staff is a big factor in the team's return to the top of college football. Mike Norvell said earlier this week that the Seminoles are one of five FBS programs in the nation to bring back their head coach and all 10 field assistants.
Having staff in the building that perform a variety of roles is a huge benefit. That being said, there were some departures this offseason as Director of Scouting (Offense) John Garrett, Senior Defensive Analyst Shane Burnham, and Graduate Assistant (Offense) Cooper Williams all left. There was someone.
Aside from Garrett, who landed at Duke, and Williams and Burnham, who landed at Missouri, student assistant coach (offense) Nick O'Leary is a member of the Seminoles' staff as of Monday's release of the latest spring media guide. It wasn't listed. A program spokesperson confirmed to NoleGameday that O'Leary no longer works at Florida State University. The former star tight end, 2013 national champion and NFL draft pick assisted tight ends coach Chris Thomsen last year.
The Seminoles will be introducing some new faces as spring begins to fill in some gaps. Former FSU softball player Mac Leonard and former Texas A&M analyst Ben Miles are two names we'll be getting to know in the coming weeks.
Leonard joined the football team as coordinator of player development and football operations after a fulfilling career within the circle. She appeared in 125 games during her two years at Florida State, batting .316 with 14 home runs, 90 RBIs, and 28 doubles, pitching 71.2 innings and posting a 3.13 earned run average. Leonard was named to the ACC All-Tournament Team both years and earned First Team All-Conference honors in 2022. Last season, she was part of head coach Ronnie Alameda's team that competed in the WCWS Championship Series.
The Illinois native served as assistant director of operations for the Florida State women's basketball team from 2023-2024. Her responsibilities included coordinating travel, special events, community service, and working with Seminole Her Boosters on events and relationships with the Women's Basketball Her program. Leonard will complete her bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary social sciences at FSU in 2022, and in May 2024 she will earn a master's degree in sports management at FSU.
Miles arrives in Tallahassee as a graduate assistant (offense) and will work on Florida State's offensive line after starting his coaching career at Texas A&M under former FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher. He served as a graduate assistant in 2022 and an analyst for the Aggies in 2023. Miles worked on practice plans, game plans and film analysis at College State.
The son of former legendary head coach Les Miles, he began his playing career at Nebraska in 2017 and spent one season at Texas A&M before transferring to Kansas to play under his father. . Miles received honorable mention All-Big 12 fullback honors in 2019 and was named first-team Academic All-Big 12 in 2020. He played in 28 games and started nine for the Jayhawks, catching four passes for 1 yard and rushing three times for 10 yards.
Miles will replace Williams and join offensive line coach Alex Atkins and senior offensive analyst Gabe Fertitta in the front five.
* Some articles by biography on Seminoles.com
Read more: FSU football's Mike Norvell talks about spring training and looks ahead to the 2024 season
continue nord game day We'll have more coverage of Florida State football throughout the spring.
