Jay Norvell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jay Norvell

Norvell in 2022 as head coach of Colorado State
Current position
Title	Head coach
Team	Colorado State
Conference	MW
Record	16–21
Biographical details
Born	(1963-03-28) March 28, 1963 (age 62) Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Playing career
1982–1985	Iowa
1986	Denver Broncos*
1987	Chicago Bears
Position(s)	Defensive back, linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1986–1987	Iowa (GA)
1988	Northern Iowa (WR)
1989–1994	Wisconsin (OL/WR/TE)
1995–1997	Iowa State (QB/WR)
1998–2001	Indianapolis Colts (WR)
2002–2003	Oakland Raiders (TE)
2004–2006	Nebraska (OC/QB)
2007	UCLA (OC/QB)
2008–2010	Oklahoma (assistant OC/WR)
2011–2014	Oklahoma (co-OC/WR)
2015	Texas (WR)
2016	Arizona State (PGC/WR)
2017–2021	Nevada
2022–present	Colorado State
Head coaching record
Overall	49–47
Bowls	2–2
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
First-team All-Big Ten (1985)

Jay Norvell (born March 28, 1963) is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Colorado State University. He has held this position since the 2022 season. Before that, Norvell was the head coach at the University of Nevada, Reno from 2017 to 2021. His father, Merritt Norvell, was an athletic director at Michigan State University.

Playing Football

Norvell played college football at the University of Iowa from 1982 to 1985. He also played professionally in the National Football League (NFL). He was a linebacker for the Chicago Bears for one season in 1987.

Coaching Career

Starting as a Coach

Jay Norvell began his coaching journey at his old college, Iowa, in 1986. He started as a graduate assistant. From 1988 to 2001, Norvell worked as an assistant coach. He coached at Northern Iowa, Wisconsin, and Iowa State.

He also spent a short time in the NFL as an assistant coach. This was with the Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders from 2002 to 2003. After that, he returned to college football. In 2004, he became an offensive coordinator for the first time at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. At Nebraska, he helped quarterback Zac Taylor become a top player. Taylor won the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award.

In 2007, Norvell was the offensive coordinator at UCLA for one season. Then, he joined Oklahoma from 2008 to 2010. There, he was an assistant offensive coordinator and coached wide receivers. In 2011, he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator. He stayed at Oklahoma until January 2015. After leaving Oklahoma, he became the wide receivers coach at the University of Texas. He was also in charge of calling plays for the offense. In 2016, Norvell coached wide receivers and coordinated the passing game at Arizona State. Then, in 2017, he got his first job as a head coach at Nevada.

Leading the Nevada Wolf Pack

In 2017, Norvell became the head coach for the Nevada team. His first year was tough, with the team winning only 3 games and losing 9. However, Norvell helped the team improve a lot the next season. In 2018, Nevada finished with 8 wins and 5 losses. They also won the 2018 Arizona Bowl in overtime against Arkansas State.

Nevada continued to have winning seasons in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Norvell led the team to a winning record in four out of his five seasons there. He also helped Nevada quarterback Carson Strong win the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year award two years in a row (2020 and 2021). Norvell left Nevada to become the head coach at Colorado State.

Coaching the Colorado State Rams

On December 6, 2021, Colorado State hired Jay Norvell as their 24th head coach. Norvell's coaching style focuses on passing the ball a lot. This was a big change from the previous coach, Steve Addazio, who preferred running plays. As of July 2025, Norvell's record as the Rams' Head Coach is 16 wins and 21 losses.

Personal Life

Jay Norvell's father, Merritt, married his mother, Cynthia, on July 4, 1962. Cynthia was a model. Jay has one brother named Aaron. His mother passed away at age 79 after battling cancer. Jay Norvell is a Catholic.

Coaching Records