When it comes to the coaching carousel in college football, if there’s one thing we should know by now is to expect the unexpected. Coaches are fired and some move from school to school like Charles Huff who left Marshall for Southern Mississippi.
There are some schools that make the simple hire or a hire that nobody sees coming and in the case of Norfolk State, it might end up being the latter. After moving on from former head coach Dawson Odums in November after a 15-31 record at the helm, the Spartans are looking for a new head coach and they are reportedly looking at a former Virginia Tech playing legend for the spot.
Norfolk State hires Michael Vick for head coaching position
According to David Teel of The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, Vick is in talks to become the next coach at Norfolk State and that became reality Tuesday night. When reached at his Florida home for comment by Teel, Vick said that he has spoken with university president Javaune Adams-Gaston and Spartans athletic director Melody Webb and that he expects resolution “soon.” It's now official.
BREAKING: Michael Vick has been hired as Norfolk State’s next HC, per @ByDavidTeel pic.twitter.com/FNoaoCYn0E
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 17, 2024
This is a stunning move by Vick and the school as he has no prior coaching experience. After starring in high school, Vick had a tremendous career in Blacksburg, leading the Hokies to an undefeated season in 1999 to the Big East title and a berth in the National Championship Game against Florida State that they would lose. He was selected No. 1 overall in the 2001 Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
Vick’s first head coaching job would be one to turn around a Norfolk State program that has had just one Football Championship Subdivision berth since making the leap to the FCS and that was in 2011. The Spartans compete in the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference and Hokies wide receiver Da’Quan Felton spent two years there before coming to Virginia Tech ahead of the 2023 season.