Norvell teared up during his first press conference as Iowa's new running backs coach. His love for the Hawkeye program is well-documented, but that's not the only reason why he's the perfect candidate for the position.
When Jay Norvell was named an offensive analyst for Iowa football on Feb. 4, he immediately issued a token of appreciation on social media.
"Grateful to back at Iowa with Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes. I owe so much to the University of Iowa. Look forward to giving back! Go Hawks!"
Two months later, Norvell still can't believe he's in the position he's in. That's because he's already been promoted to running backs coach. It's a job that has a lot more responsibility (and pays a lot more, too). That's definitely a plus for Norvell, but that's not the only reason why he loves his position - he enjoys it because he gets to return to the place where he played from 1982-1985.
Norvell was the captain of Iowa's 1985 team that went 10-2 and reached the Rose Bowl. We'll have plenty of content about his coaching journey on this site next week, but Norvell got a chance to meet with the local media for the first time since his return to Iowa.
There was so much to digest from his maiden message, but the first word that comes to mind is gratitude. It's so easy to tell how much pride and passion Norvell has for the University of Iowa, evidenced by his tear-filled eyes as he uttered this quote:
"When you're a head coach, you have about 200 people that you see every day, and you're responsible for them and and that that went away for me," Norvell said. "That was really hard. But I think the biggest thing I've always loved [is the] team. There's something very special about team. And when I came back here [to Iowa], I felt that."
Norvell is referring to his previous three and a half-year stint as Colorado State's head coach until his firing in October of last year. Losing your job mid-season definitely warrants emotion from a coach, but that's only part of the story here.
Norvell kept circling back to his playing days at Iowa during his press conference, which reminded me of something - few college football programs have a stronger culture than Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes. Iowa is great at not only retaining its roster during the hectic transfer portal cycle, it also retains coaches, too.
Assistant head coach Seth Wallace and defensive coordinator Phil Parker both could've earned higher-profile jobs, but they chose to remain Hawkeyes. The same can also be said for Norvell, as he told us during his press conference that he had another opportunity to be a head coach again, but said it "wasn't the right situation for me."
No one knows how long Norvell will serve as Iowa's running backs coach, but all indications are that he intends to stay in Iowa City for the long haul. Considering Norvell is the Hawkeyes' third running backs coach in as many seasons, that level of loyalty is not only appreciated - it's desperately needed.
Norvell's dedication to Iowa makes him an obvious fit for the job, but that's not the only reason. Remember his head coaching tenure? It produced just a 51-52 mark over eight and a half seasons (four at Nevada, then Colorado State), but it will likely come in handy for the Hawkeyes.
Norvell played defensive back and linebacker for Hayden Fry, but his previous head coaching experiencing allowed him to work with every position group. That's why you shouldn't be worried about Norvell coaching a position that he has no playing experience.
One great example of this and a name Norvell mentioned? Bill Belichick.
That's right. The legendary NFL coach played center and tight end in college, but later became well-known as one of the best defensive minds in football history. You all know his accomplishments, so there's no point in listing them.
How Iowa's running back room performs in 2026 will ultimately determine if the hiring was a success. Though it's only April, I think it's safe to say that Ferentz made a slam-dunk hire by bringing Norvell to Iowa City.
Looking for a FREE Hawkeyes community?
Don't miss out on our Roundtable community and the latest news! It's completely FREE to join.
Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the FREE Roundtable APP and stay even more connected!
Missed the Caitlin Clark jersey giveaway?
No problem! Become a FREE HawkeyeRoundtable community member today to have a chance to win future Hawkeye prizes! We'll continue the giveaways throughout the year and may or may not have one coming later this month, so stay tuned!