Florida State's timeline to hire an athletics director is approximately 30 days, according to a copy of the school's agreement with search firm Parker Executive Search.
The school will pay the search firm $100,000 for the athletics director search and $75,000 for the football coach search according to documents released to the Osceola as part of an open records request on Wednesday afternoon.
Within the documents sent to FSU, vice president Daniel Parker states he has led more than 200 searches for athletics directors, conference commissioners, football, basketball and baseball coaches as well as facilitating US Olympic committee and pro sports hires.
Parker's firm and Florida State administrators signed the agreement on an athletics director search on Friday, the same day as the Board of Trustees Meeting. The ball began rolling quickly.
FSU president Richard McCullough and Board of Trustees chairman Peter Collins have stated they were determining a revised leadership structure for the athletics department. McCullough dismissed athletics director Michael Alford on Sept. 14.
That athletics department leadership structure is not outlined specifically in the contract, and it has not been outlined to the Osceola. But Parker's firm does assist in laying out a job description.
"We will assist the Search Committee in identifying basic responsibilities, title, reporting relationships, and experience required in order to prepare the updated position specification," the contract states. "We will provide the Search Committee with sample specifications and assist in fine tuning the specification, as requested."
Within five days, the search firm is slated to meet with the search committee to discuss the "search process, expectations of qualified candidates, position requirements, timeline, and advertising." It's not clear to the Osceola who leads or how many people are on FSU's search committee for an AD.
Meetings continue gradually along the timeline and, on the 18th day, FSU's search committee will receive "Parker Executive Search’s recommendation of 8-10 candidates who have expressed an interest in the position and who meet the required job qualifications."
A week later, the search committee will interview three or four candidates and on approximately the 30th day it is outlined that McCullough will make an announcement.
"One of the objectives of the search process is to give the client, candidates, and general public a substantial comfort level that the search has been conducted professionally and efficiently," Parker's contract with FSU states.
No timeline is outlined for the football coach search in the contract, although Parker's firm "will provide a suggested search timeline." The contract between FSU and Parker was signed on Monday, a day after coach Mike Norvell's dismissal.
FSU is one of four Power 4 college football openings, including NC State, Maryland and Baylor.
It's not yet clear if the coach hiring timeline will be complete in time for the early signing window for high school and junior college prospects, which is Dec. 2-4. The transfer portal opens on Jan. 1.
The search firm says its process is "inclusive, not exclusive" and that candidates will be "given complete consideration" to find a panel of candidates.
Parker's firm will seek to "obtain an understanding of accomplishments, capabilities, strengths and weaknesses, and potential for success for each candidate through resume review, telephone screenings, job specific questionnaires and, in some instances, personal interviews."
The contract notes Parker's firm "does not have a vote in the final selection process."
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