Florida State Football: 5 best coaching candidates to replace Jimbo Fisher

Florida State football is holding a coaching search for the first time since 1975. Here are the top five candidates for the Seminoles head football job.

In 1975 the Florida State Seminoles needed to find a head football coach and made an iconic hire in Bobby Bowden. Bowden served as the ‘Noles head coach from 1976-2009 totaling 304 wins with only 97 losses over those four decades. Bowden led the Seminoles from actual film, into VHS, and on to DVD, but Jimbo Fisher took over into the digital era and continued on Bowden’s success.

Fisher was Bowden’s “head coach in waiting” for three seasons before taking over the program for himself in 2010. Coach Bowden had instate success, finishing 10-2 in 1977. He coached the ‘Noles to two national titles (93, 99), two Heisman Trophy winners (Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke). Fisher also coached a national title winner at FSU in 2013, and a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback in Jameis Winston.

Those similarities aside, Jimbo Fisher is back to the SEC. Jimbo coached at LSU and Auburn before heading to Texas A&M this off-season. Jimbo takes over for a fired Kevin Sumlin and has an iconic 10 year $75 million dollar contract to beat Nick Saban.

Who will replace Fisher at Florida State? FSU assistant Odell Haggins was named the interim coach for the Noles’ regular season finale against Louisiana Monroe. Haggins has been a Seminole coach since his NFL playing career ended in 1992. Haggins will give way to one of these top five candidates, or maybe even someone else if this search follows the Volunteers’ model from Rocky Top.