Florida State head coach Mike Norvell has tested positive for COVID-19.
The school announced the news Saturday, saying Norvell tested positive in the football program’s most recent round of testing. Norvell will not coach next weekend when the Seminoles play Miami on the road.
Norvell, in his first season at FSU, said in a statement that he will remain “involved remotely as much as possible.” Chris Thomsen, FSU’s deputy head coach, will handle “in-person head coaching duties” until Norvell can return.
Norvell said he was surprised by the positive result, especially after he tested negative in FSU’s two previous rounds of testing this week. Norvell’s wife and daughter were both negative for COVID-19 on Saturday morning.
Norvell’s full statement is below:
“In our most recent round of Covid testing yesterday, I received a positive result after being negative in our previous two tests this week. My wife and daughter were tested this morning with negative results but are quarantining. My result was surprising to me, but we have prepared for a potential positive result among anyone in our program and we will put that plan in place while I am away,” Norvell said.
“I will remain involved remotely as much as possible to help our team continue to prepare. Deputy head coach Chris Thomsen will handle in-person head coaching duties until I am able to return. I’m grateful to the administration, players and staff for their commitment to the protocols we have in place, which have helped us limit contact with others and allowed us to continue moving forward.”
Florida State athletic director David Coburn said that Norvell is “feeling fine” and that he doesn’t believe the Miami game “is in jeopardy.”
“This is unfortunate, but luckily Coach is feeling fine. We are proceeding with our Covid protocols as we would with any other case. Coach is isolated, and university tracing staff is handling the contact tracing as they normally do. We will continue to test staff and student-athletes as we have been,” Coburn said. “We have communicated with [ACC] Commissioner John Swofford and Miami Athletics Director Blake James. At this point, based on our testing this week, we have no reason to believe that the Miami game is in jeopardy.”
Norvell is the second FBS head coach to publicly announce that he had tested positive for COVID-19. Back in July, Toledo’s Jason Candle tested positive.
Florida State opened its season last weekend with a loss at home to Georgia Tech. FSU has a bye this weekend before its second game of the season next Saturday at Miami.
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