When news broke last week that former Virginia Tech legend Michael Vick was interviewing for a head coaching job in college football, it took some people by surprise. The first report had him in discussions with Norfolk State and then later, Sacramento State was rumored to be after the former Hokies quarterback.
In the end, Vick accepted the position at Norfolk State, his first-ever coaching job. The former NFL signal-caller is tasked with the job of turning around a program that has struggled recently, something that won't be easy in the current state of college sports. On Monday, he was introduced as the next coach of the Spartans. Once it was official, he drew praise from one coach who sent him a message on X.
Deion Sanders has strong message of support for Norfolk State head coach Michael Vick
Colorado coach Deion Sanders, another former NFL player who has found success this season with the Buffaloes, expressed on his X account how he feels about Vick becoming a first-time head coach.
Let’s go baby! We’ve got to support, encourage, assist & show consistent Love to Coach Vick! He’s forever changed to QB position in @cfb @NFL & he will have tremendous impact on Coaching & Leading men to their true destinations. Love ya my brother. @MichaelVick pic.twitter.com/xZYN8ROftl
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) December 23, 2024
Sanders is just as excited for Vick as all Hokies' fans are. Like Sanders, Vick is not beginning as an assistant coach and sliding right into the head coaching ranks at an HBCU school. After Sanders had success at Jackson State, he made the move to Colorado and produced this season's Heisman Trophy winner in Travis Hunter. He also had Colorado in the mix for the Big 12 Championship and a playoff berth, something they fell short in both.
At his press conference on Monday, Vick said that he reached out to Sanders as soon as he got the job, but didn't want to be compared to him saying, "Deion is Deion. I'm Michael Vick."
Just how Vick fares in his first coaching stop is going to be something fascinating to watch, and he'll have the full support of Sanders in Colorado.