By Hawk Fanatic

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Former Iowa defensive back Jay Norvell is returning to his alma mater to work as an offensive analyst.

Norvell played safety for the Hawkeyes in the mid-1980s and was a starter on Iowa’s 1985 Big Ten champion team, earning first-team All-Big Ten recognition.

The Madison, Wisconsin native started his coaching career in 1986 as a graduate assistant at Iowa under Hayden Fry.

Norvell confirmed the hire with a post on X:

“Grateful to be back with Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes. I owe so much to the University of Iowa. Look forward yo giving back. Go Hawks!

Norvell will be reunited with Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, who was the Iowa offensive line coach throughout Norvell’s time as a Hawkeye. Ferentz coached the Iowa offensive line from 1981 to 1989.

Norvell has coached for 11 different colleges, including serving as the head coach for Nevada from 2017 to 2021 and for Colorado State from 2022 to 2025. He has led five different teams to bowl games and has a 51-52 career record as a college head coach.

Norvell also has coached in the NFL for six seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders.

Iowa recently lost Warren Ruggiero as an offensive analyst as he took a similar job with Virginia Tech under new head coach James Franklin. Ruggiero spent one season on the Iowa staff.

Norvell served as an Iowa honorary captain for a game in November.