Seminole Sunday Sauce — Jan. 11, 2026: FSU Volleyball Coach Poole Steps Down After 18 seasons
After 18 years at the helm in Tallahassee, Florida State volleyball coach Chris Poole is calling it quits.
The winningest coach in program history and the seventh winningest in NCAA Division I history, Poole leaves Tallahassee with 39 years of head coaching experience. During his tenure, Poole led the Seminoles to 405 wins, four ACC titles and 15 NCAA Tournament appearances.
A 4-time ACC Coach of the Year, Poole won at least 20 matches 12 times during his tenure. His best season came in 2011 when FSU reached its only Final Four while compiling 28 wins. Under Poole, FSU never had a losing season.
"This university, this department, and this program have meant everything to me," Poole said in a release. "After thoughtful consideration, I believe this is the right time for me to step aside. I am excited to pursue my next goal in life of working in athletics administration. I am incredibly proud of what we've built in Tallahassee and am fully confident in the future of Florida State volleyball.”
FSU will conduct a national search to find a successor.
FOOTBALL
Record: 5-7
Ranking: N/A
Recognitions: Duce Robinson, WR (CSC Academic All-District); Jayden Todd, OL (CSC Academic All-District); AJ Cottrill, LB (CSC Academic All-District)
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2026 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 14 nationally, second in ACC* (32 total commitments)
Wrap-up: …
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 7-9 (0-3 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (0-1), lost to NC State on Saturday, 113-69
Upcoming: at Syracuse (Tuesday); vs. Wake Forest (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2026 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 9 nationally*, second in ACC (4 total commitments)
Wrap-up: With a week to prepare, FSU had perhaps its worst performance of the season.
WomEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 5-11 (0-4 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (0-1), lost to Virginia in double overtime on Sunday, 91-87
Upcoming: at Miami (Sunday); at Pittsburgh (Thursday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU had perhaps its best performance in ACC play last week, but still couldn’t secure that first win.
Swimming and Diving
Ranking: Men No. 12 CSCAA
Past Week: Swept Villanova on Tuesday by scores of 261-59 (men) and 205-114 (women); men lost Georgia 183.5-114.5 on Saturday; women lost to Georgia 170-116 and to Arkansas 195-101 on Saturday
Upcoming: vs. Florida (Jan. 30, Ocala)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: After dominating on Senior Day, it was a rough trip to Athens for the Seminoles. FSU will have some rest before taking on Florida.
Track and Field
Ranking: N/A
Upcoming: Jimmy Carnes Invitational (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU kicks off the indoor season in Gainesville later this week.
Men’s Tennis
Record: 0-0
Ranking: No. 22 ITA
Upcoming: vs. Troy (Sunday); vs. Mercer (Sunday); vs. Charleston (Thursday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU opens the season with two matches at home.
Women’s Tennis
Record: 0-0
Ranking: N/A
Upcoming: vs. South Florida (Saturday); vs. Bethune Cookman (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU opens the season on Saturday with two matches at home.
*Recruiting rankings according to the 247Sports Composite rankings
- Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. For all of his work, “Like” or “Follow” Mike on Facebook.
