If you are a fan of college football, you may have heard of Jay Norvell and Mike Norvell, two successful head coaches who share the same last name. But are they related? The answer is no. Despite working in the same field and having similar backgrounds, Jay Norvell and Mike Norvell are not brothers or cousins. They are just two coaches who happen to have the same surname.
Who is Jay Norvell?
Jay Norvell is the current head coach of Colorado State University, a position he has held since the 2022 season. He previously served as the head coach of Nevada from 2017 to 2021, leading the Wolf Pack to a 36–35 record and three bowl appearances.
Jay Norvell was born on March 28, 1963, in Madison, Wisconsin. His father, Merritt Norvell, was the athletic director at Michigan State University from 1995 to 1998. Jay played college football at Iowa from 1982 to 1985 as a defensive back and linebacker. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 1985 after leading the conference with seven interceptions.
Jay began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Iowa in 1986. He then worked as an assistant coach at various colleges, including Northern Iowa, Wisconsin, Iowa State, Nebraska, UCLA, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arizona State. He also spent five years in the NFL as a wide receivers coach for the Indianapolis Colts and the Oakland Raiders.
Jay is married to Kim Norvell and has two children, Jaden and McKinley. He is of mixed ethnicity, as his father is African American and his mother is Caucasian.
Who is Mike Norvell?
Mike Norvell is the current head coach of Florida State University, a position he has held since the 2020 season. He previously served as the head coach of Memphis from 2016 to 2019, leading the Tigers to a 38–15 record and four bowl appearances. He also won the American Athletic Conference championship in 2019.
Mike Norvell was born on October 11, 1981, in Irving, Texas. He played college football at Central Arkansas from 2001 to 2005 as a wide receiver. He set the school’s all-time reception record with 213 catches for 2,611 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Mike started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Central Arkansas in 2006. He then worked as an assistant coach at various colleges, including Tulsa, Pittsburgh, and Arizona State. He was mainly responsible for coaching wide receivers and quarterbacks, as well as serving as an offensive coordinator or co-offensive coordinator.
Mike is married to Maria Chiolino and has two daughters, Mila and Charlie. He is of Caucasian ethnicity.
Conclusion
Jay Norvell and Mike Norvell are two college football coaches who have achieved success in their respective programs. They are not related by blood or marriage, but they do share some similarities in their careers and backgrounds. They both played college football as wide receivers, coached at Arizona State, and became head coaches in their mid-30s. They also both have families and are active on social media.
According to Wikipedia and Biography Host, Jay Norvell and Mike Norvell are not related. They are just two coaches who happen to have the same last name.
