Norvell Joins OU Football Staff

Feb. 11, 2002

Norman, Okla. - Former Indianapolis Colts wide receivers coach Jay Norvell has been hired to coach the same position at the University of Oklahoma. OU head coach Bob Stoops made that announcement today.

Norvell has a long association with several members of the Sooner coaching staff. He was a teammate with Bob Stoops, OU associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chuck Long and tight ends coach Jonathan Hayes during his college career at Iowa from 1982-85. He was an All-Big Ten defensive back in 1985 and led the league interceptions for one season. Also at Iowa, he was associated with five bowl teams, including two Rose Bowl squads, a pair of Big Ten championship teams and a team that spent five weeks of the 1985 season ranked No. 1.

Norvell spent one season in the NFL as a member of the Chicago Bears in 1987.

"Jay has been very successful on the professional and college levels and he's just a coach with a lot of great experience," Stoops said. "The Indianapolis offense became one of the most respected units in the NFL during the time Jay was there. Marvin Harrison became a perrenial all-pro player, and Jay and that entire receiving unit deserve a lot of the credit for the way the Colts were able to move the ball."

Stoops added that Norvell is a good personal match for his staff.

"It just comes down to character, work ethic and discipline and I know Jay has those traits," Stoops said. "He's everything you look for in a coach."

Norvell began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Iowa in 1986 before joining the Northern Iowa staff in 1988. From 1989-94, he was on the Wisconsin staff as the wide receivers and special teams coach. There he was with two bowl teams and helped reverse the Badgers from 1-10 to 10-1. In 1995, he went to Iowa State as assistant head coach and quarterbacks and receivers a coach, a position he held until joining the Colts' staff in 1998.

He just completed his fourth season in Indianapolis.

"I had an opportunity to stay in Indianapolis, but I made the choice to come to OU because I felt the opportunity to come to this school and be with Bob Stoops was a once in a lifetime opportunity," Norvell said. "I respect all that Bob has accomplished there, and then you factor in seven national championships, three Heisman Trophy winners and all those all-Americans and it's just a remarkable situation."

Norvell's Sooner receiving corps returns four full- or part-time starters and is considered one of the team's strengths.

"That was a bit part of the attraction for me, too," he said. "I feel like I can make a contribution, especially in a wide open attack where the receivers play an important role. I still feel like I'll be coaching the best players in the country. They're just a little younger."

With the Colts, Norvell tutored three-time All-Pro Marvin Harrison, whose first six years in the NFL are the most productive by any receiver in league history. Harrison just notched his third consecutive 100-reception season to join Jerry Rice and Herman Moore as the only players in NFL history to reach the century mark in three straight years. During his college coaching days, Norvell had contact with 10 players that went on to professional careers.

Norvell, born March 28, 1963, in Madison, Wis., is married to the former Kim Fehrman. The have one son, Jaden, age 2.

At Oklahoma, Norvell replaces Steve Spurrier, Jr., who resigned in January to accept a coaching position with the Washington Redskins.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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