Report: ASU interviewed Texas’ Jay Norvell for offensive coordinator opening
Dec 7, 2015, 2:25 PM | Updated: 3:32 pm
Arizona State interviewed Texas assistant Jay Norvell for their offensive coordinator position to replace departed coach Mike Norvell, according to Longhorns site OrangeBloods.com.
Per @OB_JasonS Texas playcaller Jay Norvell interviewed for the Arizona State OC position yesterday. News coming in like crazy at OB #HookEm
— Alex Dunlap (@AlexDunlapNFL) December 7, 2015
Norvell began the 2015 season as wide receivers coach on Charlie Strong’s staff but began calling plays after fellow assistant Shawn Watson was demoted following a season-opening loss to Notre Dame.
The Longhorns’ coaching staff is expected to be overhauled this season, but even with Norvell a possibility to remain, he is not expected to be promoted.
Strong has reportedly offered an offensive coordinator position to TCU assistant Sonny Cumbie, who Horns247.com reports will choose at least two offensive assistants to work under him.
As such, the opportunity to be in charge of the offense at ASU could be appealing to Norvell, who prior to coaching at Texas was co-offensive coordinator at Oklahoma (2008-2014), UCLA (2007) and Nebraska (2004-06). Prior to his Nebraska tenure, he spent time with Raiders and Colts in the NFL, and prior to that the former Iowa player coached at Northern Iowa, Wisconsin and Iowa State.
Outside of internal candidates on Todd Graham’s ASU offensive staff — offensive line coach Chris Thomsen is one possibility — no other names to replace Mike Norvell have surfaced.
Jay Norvell’s lack of experience recruiting on the West Coast could hurt his chances, as ASU will likely want a master recruiter to replace Mike Norvell.
This year, Norvell’s offense helped a young Texas team to a 5-7 season with signature wins against Oklahoma and Baylor.
Texas scored 28 points per game, ranking 67th in college football. The Longhorns averaged 220 rushing yards per game (20th) and 146 passing yards a game (118th) as they struggled to find consistent quarterback play.
