Norvell new RB coach

That seemed like an opportunity to bring in someone young with the potential to be a dynamic recruiter. Not sure if this should be seen as a coup (getting a very experienced coach on staff) or a lost opportunity?
 
On it's face it seems like a lazy hire to me. Is he qualified for it sure I suppose. But I don't get the impression that KF opened it up and went through a lot of resumes/interviews for it. I doubt he even did anything formal with Norvell again. Just told him here it's yours. I woulda much rather an Albert Young type of younger hungry guy get a look. Norvell is just looking to stay in the game and cash a check. AY played the position has NFL experience. I would think he'd relate well to younger guys then Norvell would. Oh well is what it is.
 
Without knowing more personal information on Norvell it has to be a bunch of speculation on my part. I think a guy that has been around football for as long as he has especially on the offensive side of the ball will fit in fine.

Maybe at this stage in life he enjoys being around the game and the kids and doesn’t want to be the CEO anymore. Personally I wish they would have gone after a younger prospect and maybe they did reach out and Jay was the best fit when the conversations were over
 
I don't get the criticism of this hire. His resume is way over qualified for a position coach at one of the least important positions to coach. Because he is old? So what? And what makes people say he cannot recruit? Where does that come from? He presumably has done a lot of recruiting in his various stops, including as a HC.

I am a big fan of hiring former head coaches. Stock pile that shit. You got guys that not only have risen to the highest level of coaching so they were doing something right, but they also get what KF's job is and how to support it.

And he's an alum. What the hell, boys? This is a good hire.
 
kameltoez102 said:
Without knowing more personal information on Norvell it has to be a bunch of speculation on my part. I think a guy that has been around football for as long as he has especially on the offensive side of the ball will fit in fine.

Maybe at this stage in life he enjoys being around the game and the kids and doesn’t want to be the CEO anymore. Personally I wish they would have gone after a younger prospect and maybe they did reach out and Jay was the best fit when the conversations were over
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I doubt thats the case. If Colorado State hadn't fired him he'd still be there. Or had they been more successful he woulda been trying to get a higher level D1 gig. He didn't come to Iowa cause he turned down better offers. It's the best he had. KF gave him a nice soft place to land.

Him being the RB coach is a little odd in the sense that while at CSU they ran more of a pass happy O then anything. Prior to him they were more of a smash mouth run the ball more kinda team. Himself he played DB/LB back in the day that's his side of the ball. But he's been coaching a long time now. I guess we'll see how he fits.
 
I guess there is sorta a precedent for this. Jim Reid was an old veteran coach brought in as LB coach in 2013 and that worked out pretty well before he moved back east to become the DC at Boston College. Although Jim Reid was never a head coach, so its not exactly the same.

KOK was also an old veteran coach brought back as a position coach. Although that was kinda special case since he was supposed to be a mentor for BF. That partnership had mixed results. Started out ok when Stanley was the QB, but it fell apart quickly starting in 2021.

This situation is a little different. Tim Lestor does not really need a mentor. Lester is a former head coach himself. Still Norvell's role as an analyst made sense because he has years of wisdom and experience to share with Lester. I guess the big question is does it make sense for Norvell to the one working directly with the young RB's? Or is better to bring in somebody who is young and hungry and eager to prove themselves?

I guess in this case, you have to give KF the benefit of the doubt. KF no doubt knows, and has talked to, Norvell about this. Norvell must feel he is up for it.
 
College football is looking more like the NFL every year, and I think we're seeing the college coaching carousel beginning to mimic the NFL a little bit too. Become any type of coach in the NFL, and you have a job for life...somewhere in the NFL. Same with the NBA. Head coaches in those leagues think nothing of becoming position coaches for awhile, until the next opportunity comes along...and it always does.

With portal madness each year in college ball, heck, some of these former coaches may decide they LIKE the BTen money and stability of being a position coach, without all the headaches.
 
NCHawker said:
I alwyas like to ask. Define what you mean by overqualified.
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Normally it means the salary you need to pay to hire him is more than you would normally pay for that position. Also it usually means he won't stay in that position for long because somebody will soon offer him a higher position (like an OC job)

Now in Norvell's case, there is a twist because I am guessing Norvell is still getting paid from being fired from his old job as an FBS head coach. Which means Iowa does not need to offer him an OC salary, just a standard position coach salary, at least for his first year. So the biggest concern with Norvell is that he will be gone next year because somebody will offer him an OC job. So what's the point in him building any relationships with the young RB's or any potential recruits.
 
guffus said:
Normally it means the salary you need to pay to hire him is more than you would normally pay for that position. Also it usually means he won't stay in that position for long because somebody will soon offer him a higher position (like an OC job)

Now in Norvell's case, there is a twist because I am guessing Norvell is still getting paid from being fired from his old job as an FBS head coach. Which means Iowa does not need to offer him an OC salary, just a standard position coach salary, at least for his first year. So the biggest concern with Norvell is that he will be gone next year because somebody will offer him an OC job. So what's the point in him building any relationships with the young RB's or any potential recruits.
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You may be correct in all of your assumptions. But it's also probably true that KF has covered all of this with him and is comfortable with the hire. I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt.
 
guffus said:
Normally it means the salary you need to pay to hire him is more than you would normally pay for that position. Also it usually means he won't stay in that position for long because somebody will soon offer him a higher position (like an OC job)

Now in Norvell's case, there is a twist because I am guessing Norvell is still getting paid from being fired from his old job as an FBS head coach. Which means Iowa does not need to offer him an OC salary, just a standard position coach salary, at least for his first year. So the biggest concern with Norvell is that he will be gone next year because somebody will offer him an OC job. So what's the point in him building any relationships with the young RB's or any potential recruits.
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Yeah that last sentence is what I kinda worry about. Betts was phenomenal at that part of it and why he'd started a pipeline to his home state of FL. I can't see that being much of a thing with Norvell. That said having been an HC he's going to have his own contacts and ties to the HSs that he has been recruiting at. I guess we'll see.
 
Hawkfnntn said:
Yeah that last sentence is what I kinda worry about. Betts was phenomenal at that part of it and why he'd started a pipeline to his home state of FL. I can't see that being much of a thing with Norvell. That said having been an HC he's going to have his own contacts and ties to the HSs that he has been recruiting at. I guess we'll see.
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I guess he might have some special insight into any MWC players that want to enter the portal
 
Can he recruit good RB talent?
Can he coach up RB talent?
What is his previous level of success in these job responsibilities?
 
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Hard to see how this isn't a pretty impressive addition to the staff. Recruited and coached by Hayden, a key leader on the '85 Rose Bowl team, a bunch of stops in the NFL and college, including OC at Oklahoma...had to rebuild a team as head coach at Nevada, leveraged that to a better head coaching job at Colorado State.

Man, he's been everywhere and done everything. And has always loved Iowa. What's not to like?

I'm sure he loves to grind and to teach. Kirk is super familiar with him, and wouldn't hire him if he wasn't still getting after it every day. Norvell strikes me as a guy who will be volunteer coaching with Kirk at some high school when they are in "retirement."

Jay Niemann had been everywhere, too, including as a head coach at Simpson. That hire has worked out great. I like the mix of ages and life stages on the staff. I think Kirk figured out a long time ago that relating to players doesn't have anything to do with age. Assemble guys who like to build relationships and teach the sport...pretty good starting point for a program, especially when you are selling stability in the NIL era.
 
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