FSU football brings back Gabe Fertitta to boost offensive strategy

Florida State has hired Gabe Fertitta as its director of football strategy and offensive assistant, the program announced Thursday, bringing back a familiar face to Mike Norvell’s staff.

Fertitta returns to FSU after one season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Nicholls State. He previously spent three seasons (2022-24) with the Seminoles as a senior analyst, contributing to back-to-back 10‑win campaigns.

“I’m excited to have Gabe and his family back in Tallahassee,” Norvell said in a release. “Gabe brings valuable perspective from his experience as a head coach and offensive coordinator, and he has a familiarity with our program that will allow him to have an immediate impact.”

During Fertitta’s first season in Tallahassee, FSU led the ACC in total offense and became one of only two teams nationally to average at least 270 passing yards and 210 rushing yards per game. The Seminoles also topped the nation with 7.46 plays per game of 20 yards or more and led the conference in scoring offense, rushing offense, third‑down offense, yards per play, yards per pass, yards per rush and yards per completion.

FSU repeated as the ACC’s scoring leader in 2023 while completing an unbeaten regular season and winning the conference title. The Seminoles also ranked first in total touchdowns, rushing touchdowns and yards per completion, with 10 players earning All‑ACC honors. Quarterback Jordan Travis was named first‑team All‑ACC and conference Player of the Year.

“My family and I are extremely grateful to Coach Norvell and the Florida State administration for this opportunity to return,” Fertitta said.

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“I look forward to working with the outstanding young men in our program, not only to develop them as players but also to guide them into becoming great representatives of Florida State University.”

Fertitta’s career also includes time at Louisville as a quality control assistant and seven seasons as a high school head coach, including at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, where he won state championships in 2017 and 2020. He previously coached at St. Stanislaus (Miss.), leading the Rock‑A‑Chaws to a 12‑1 record and a third‑round playoff berth in 2013.

He began his college coaching career in 2010 as offensive coordinator at Itawamba Community College and as a graduate assistant at Mississippi College in 2005.

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football hires Gabe Fertitta as director of football strategy