FSU Football Announces Three Coaching Transitions, Including John Papuchis To Linebackers
The Seminoles have made three changes to their current coaching staff.
Florida State football has announced that assistant coach John Papuchis will be the next linebackers coach for the Seminoles. He will retain his status as special teams coordinator but will lose his title as the defensive ends coach. With new defensive coordinator Tony White likely switching the 4-3 scheme for the 3-3-5, new defensive line coach Terrance Knighton appears to be taking over the entirety of the defensive front
TALLAHASSEE – After five seasons coaching Florida State’s defensive ends, John Papuchis will shift to coach linebackers for the 2025 season while retaining his special teams coordinator duties, FSU head coach Mike Norvell announced Friday. Additionally, Ernie Sims will be FSU’s assistant linebackers coach and Austin Tucker will be the Seminoles’ assistant wide receivers coach.
“JP has a wealth of experience coaching linebackers,” Norvell said. “I’m excited for him to have a hands-on impact on that group while also continuing to be our special teams coordinator. He is an elite coach who has helped numerous players reach the NFL and guided one of the nation’s best special teams units throughout our time here
In his first five seasons at Florida State, Papuchis has coached seven All-Americans and 11 All-ACC performers. In 2024, Florida State became the first school in the history of the AFCA All-American Team to have both specialists earn first-team All-America acclaim courtesy of punter Alex Mastromanno and kicker Ryan Fitzgerald. Mastromanno led the nation in punting average with an ACC-record mark of 49.3 yards per punt, and his 30 punts of at least 50 yards were also the most in the country. Fitzgerald was a perfect 13-for-13 on field goal attempts, including 5-for-5 on 50+-yard field goals for the most 50-yard field goals in a season in program history.
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