Mike Norvell has made a significant move by adding another familiar face to his coaching team. Florida State football has welcomed Herb Hand as its new offensive line coach, as first reported by 247 Sports. Hand, a highly regarded figure in the coaching realm, has a remarkable track record. He has been a three-time finalist for Offensive Line Coach of the Year by Football Scoop in 2008, 2016, and 2017. In previous years, he worked under Gus Malzahn, including the last three years when Malzahn was the head coach at UCF. Additionally, Hand collaborated with Malzahn at Tulsa in 2007 while Norvell was also on staff.

Hand's Impressive Coaching Resume

In the past three seasons, the Knights have achieved remarkable success on the rushing front, consistently ranking in the Top-10. They average an impressive 248.1 yards per game, securing the seventh position in the country. This feat is led by their dynamic running back, RJ Harvey, who has rushed for an astonishing 1,415 yards. Hand's coaching prowess is evident in his previous stops as well. He has been at Vanderbilt from 2010 to 2013, Penn State from 2014 to 2015, Auburn from 2016 to 2017, and Texas from 2018 to 2020. These stops have allowed him to work with a plethora of notable players who have gone on to have successful NFL careers. For instance, he has mentored All-SEC First-Team lineman Braden Smith from Auburn, All-Big 12 lineman Samuel Cosmi from Texas, Donovan Smith at Penn State, and Wesley Johnson at Vanderbilt.

Replacing the Previous Offensive Line Coach

Herb Hand takes over the role from Alex Atkins, who was unfortunately let go this season following the Notre Dame loss. The Seminoles had been struggling to establish a stable front five due to consistent lineup changes, which had a detrimental impact on their running game. Currently, the Seminoles are ranked 130th with only 89.9 yards per game. They will also face the challenge of losing three of their five starters.

The Current Coaching Staff at FSU

The Seminoles' coaching staff is a diverse and experienced group. Associate head coach Odell Haggins plays a crucial off-field role. Gus Malzahn serves as the offensive coordinator, while Tony Tokarz is in charge of the quarterbacks. David Johnson takes on the responsibilities of running backs and recruiting coordinator. The wide receivers position is currently open. Chris Thomsen is in charge of the tight ends. Herb Hand leads the offensive line. On the defensive side, Tony White is the defensive coordinator, John Papuchis is the special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach, Terrance Knighton leads the defensive line, Patrick Surtain Sr is in charge of the defensive backs, and Evan Cooper oversees the safeties.