Florida State hired Jeff Purinton as its new athletic director on Monday, ESPN reported.
Purinton is a Florida State alumnus who previously worked at the school for more than a decade during Bobby Bowden’s tenure as head football coach. Purinton also worked with Coach Martin.
“Florida State is home to me in so many ways,” Purinton said in a statement released by the school.
“It’s where I went to school, where I got my start in this profession and where I learned from people who helped shape the way I’ve approached my career.”
“I want to give my deep appreciation and thanks to President Richard McCullough and BOT Chair Peter Collins for placing their trust and belief in me to lead Florida State Athletics,” Purinton said in the press release.
Purinton spent more than ten years at the University of Alabama working alongside Nick Saban. After his time at FSU from 1996 to 2004, Purinton had a 15-year career at Alabama. He left Arkansas State in 2025 to serve as an executive vice president at Learfield, overseeing Southeastern Conference multimedia relationships and revenue development, according to the university. According to Learfield's website, Purinton oversaw all Southeastern Conference school relationships and worked in multimedia regarding name, image and likeness and revenue in college athletics.
“Florida State is committed to competing at the highest level, and Jeff Purinton understands what that requires,” FSU Board of Trustees chair Peter Collins said in a statement. Collins added, “He knows this university, he knows the culture of Seminole Athletics, and he has spent his career working in and leading excellent athletics organizations.”
Florida State University President Richard McCullough stated, “Jeff Purinton has the experience, judgment and championship pedigree to lead Florida State Athletics at this important moment.” McCullough added, “As a two-time FSU graduate and former Athletics department employee, Jeff has a deep understanding of what makes Florida State special.”
University president Richard McCullough stated at the time that he wanted an administrator capable of modernizing the athletic department to increase revenue generation.
The university subsequently hired Daniel Parker of Parker Executive Search to lead the search for both a new athletic director and a head football coach, according to the university.
With the athletic director position filled, Florida State turns its focus to finding a permanent head football coach. The program fired Mike Norvell last week following a seven-year tenure and a 3-5 start to the season. Rick Stockstill, another Bowden-era alumnus, took over as interim head coach. Stockstill earned a victory over Boston College in his first game on Saturday, marking the program’s first road win in nearly three years.
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