Florida State fires athletics director Michael Alford

Michael Alford, who served as Florida State University's athletic director since 2021, has been terminated from his position. This decision comes a week after the Seminole football team suffered a 27-24 loss to SMU, marking FSU's 1-1 record for the season and 4-14 in conference play over the last three years. In a statement, Florida State President Freeman A. McCullough expressed gratitude for Alford's contributions while emphasizing the need for continued investment in the athletic program to ensure competitiveness.

Senior Associate Athletics Director Bruce Warwick will take on the role of interim Athletic Director. Alford's tenure at FSU was marked by significant infrastructure projects, including the Albert J. and Judith A. Dunlap Football Center and Doak S. Campbell football stadium, which collectively cost the university around $403 million.

Despite these investments, FSU reported $437 million in athletics-related debt. Under Alford's leadership, the university's athletics department saw a 31.5% revenue increase since 2022, the highest in the program's history. Alford's legacy includes the hiring of several notable head coaches and the achievement of two national championships in football.