​Mike Norvell’s continued search for improvement with Florida State football has led him to Tom Herman, who will serve as the assistant to the head coach, Norvell confirmed at ACC Kickoff on July 15.Herman was hired on Monday, and the former head coach at Texas, FAU and Houston, among other stops, comes to the Seminoles to offer Norvell a “new perspective.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNorvell said the program hosted Herman in the summer and gave him the chance to meet with staff. The two share history, with a prior crossover when Norvell led Memphis and Herman at Houston.”We have a long relationship. For how things all transpired, we were able to visit a little bit this summer,” Norvell said at ACC Kickoff. “We found a role and opportunity that I think he can make a great impact in helping support this staff, being able to add a new perspective to things that he’s done, to be able to help assist the guys within our football team just to go and achieve at a very high level.”Herman was 60-38 as a head coach and held a 5-1 bowl game record while being well regarded as a prime offensive mind in college football. He will assist Norvell, who is back in the play-calling seat, and offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr., who was promoted after Gus Malzahn’s retirement.Norvell told reporters at ACC Kickoff that Herman would help him “situationally,” alongside assisting defensive coordinator Tony White in helping scheme against opposing offenses.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere are other takeaways from Norvell and Ashton Daniels, Duce Robinson and Jabril Rawls’ ACC Kickoff appearance.Norvell stated plainly during his appearance at the podium that he knows “words don’t matter” to fans, and that his team needs to win on the field to prove things are turning around.The Seminoles have gone 7-17 in the last two seasons, and pressure on Norvell to win is at a boiling point heading into his seventh season in charge.”In reality, the words don’t matter. It’s about the action,” Norvell said. “That’s our focus. I could stand up here and say a lot of things, but it’s still about what’s going to show up.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt’s not something Norvell hasn’t said before, but it is the reality. The easiest way to silence criticism is with success on the field, something that the Seminoles briefly did last season with an upset win over Alabama and a 3-0 start to the season.The noise quickly rose after a 2-7 finish to the season, which now puts Norvell in a position where he has to maximize the talent on his roster in 2026 against a tricky schedule.”It’s not about me giving a great speech, trying to say things. It’s about showing up and being willing to do. That’s the focus of this coaching staff, this football team. That’s my focus,” Norvell said. “Pouring everything I have into them, into this staff, into the opportunity we have in the ’26 season.”Florida State Seminoles quarterback Ashton Daniels (14) winds up to pass Thursday, April