The Florida State Seminoles “have hired Jeff Purinton as their athletic director”, according to the “FSU head coach hot board 2.0”.
Purinton is set to lead the search alongside University President Richard McCullough, Board of Trustees Chair Peter Collins, and Daniel Parker of Parker Executive Search.
The Seminoles will not have a ton of time to make the hire with the early signing period set to start on Dec. 2.
FSU ends its regular season against the “Florida Gators” on Nov. 27.
Most college football teams conclude their regular seasons on Nov. 28.
The transfer portal, which will be vital for FSU to rebuild its roster, is scheduled to open on Jan. 4.
Purinton admitted that most of the work will not be public because coaches are never willing to have conversations with another school during the season.
Some preliminary discussions have already taken place, with one candidate recently signing an extension to remove his name from the race.
Among the top names to watch is Duke head coach Manny Diaz, who started his career at FSU in the 1990s alongside Purinton.
Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann has also emerged as a top candidate to consider if the program opts against hiring a sitting head coach.
Former FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher wants to return to the university, though it remains unclear how enthusiastic the administration is about bringing him back.
Fisher led FSU to the 2013 national championship before departing for Texas A&M in 2017.
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham, who previously spent time at FSU under Mike Norvell, is another potential target.
New Mexico head coach Jason Eck and Houston head coach Willie Fritz have also generated widespread industry interest due to their proven winning track records.