Tom Herman’s Surprising $25-an-Hour Role at Florida State: From National Title Coordinator to Low-Profile Assistant

Tom Herman has coached at some of the highest levels of college football. He helped win a national championship. He turned Houston into a winner almost overnight. He was once viewed as one of the brightest young head coaches in the sport.

Now the 51-year-old is working at Florida State for $25 an hour.

Public records show Herman accepted a position listed as “Athletic & Recr Assistant” with the Seminoles, starting in mid-July 2026. The role is structured as a 40-hour-per-week position. That works out to roughly $52,000 a year before taxes — a dramatic drop from the salaries he earned as a head coach.

The title on the staff directory is “Assistant to the Head Coach.” In practice, Herman is expected to work closely with Mike Norvell, contribute to game analysis, and serve as an offensive sounding board, particularly on situational football. Reports also indicate he will assist with strategy discussions involving the defensive staff.

A Career That Once Seemed Bound for the Top

Herman’s résumé still carries weight. As offensive coordinator at Ohio State under Urban Meyer, he helped design one of the most efficient attacks in the country during the Buckeyes’ 2014 national championship run. That success led to the head coaching job at Houston, where he went 22-4 in two seasons and won the American Athletic Conference title in his first year.

Texas hired him away from Houston to replace Charlie Strong. The results in Austin never matched the early expectations, and Herman was eventually fired. He later took the job at Florida Atlantic, where he was dismissed after a 4-8 season in 2024. His previous salary at FAU was reported around $750,000.

After that, Herman stayed largely out of the spotlight until Florida State brought him on in a support capacity.

Why the Pay Is Drawing Attention

College football is full of high-profile coaches cycling through analyst and support roles after head coaching tenures end. What stands out in Herman’s case is the official hourly rate. $25 per hour is closer to what many entry-level staffers or graduate assistants earn than what a former Power conference head coach typically commands, even in a reduced role.

It is possible Herman is still receiving buyout money from previous stops, which would make the low listed salary less financially significant. Still, the public figure has raised eyebrows across the industry and among fans.

For Florida State, the hire brings a coach with extensive experience calling plays, managing high-pressure programs, and developing offenses. Norvell has spoken about valuing Herman’s perspective, particularly as the Seminoles continue reshaping their staff and approach.

What It Means for Both Sides

For Herman, the move keeps him in the game at a program with resources and ambition. Working under Norvell gives him a chance to contribute without the full pressure of a head coaching seat. For Florida State, it adds a veteran voice with championship experience and a history of offensive innovation at a relatively low cost on the official books.

Whether the role expands or remains limited will become clearer as the season approaches. For now, the story is straightforward and unusual: a coach who once stood on the sideline for a national title and ran major programs is currently listed at $25 an hour in Tallahassee.

In a sport defined by massive salaries and constant movement, Tom Herman’s latest chapter is a reminder that careers in college football can take unexpected turns sometimes all the way down to an hourly rate.