Football
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Phone:
- 901-678-4140
Three years ago, Mike Norvell came to Memphis with an ability to develop dynamic offenses. Two American Athletic Conference West Division titles and countless broken school records later, his first three seasons with the Tigers have not disappointed.
Year one of the Norvell-era offense featured the second most-prolific offense in program history at the time, behind only 2015, rolling up the second-most total yards (6,028) and scoring the second-most points (505) for a season in school history.
Those totals quickly moved to fourth on the all-time list as the following two seasons showed even more improvement.
Year two shattered the 2016 marks with 6,917 total yards, and 592 points scored. The Memphis offense also scored the most touchdowns (74) for a campaign in program history in 2017, including a school season-record 39 touchdown passes. The Tigers’ 4,355 passing yards were the first 4,000-plus passing season in school history and the 307 completions was the third-most for a season in school history.
Just one year later, 583 yards of total offense in Memphis’ second-consecutive American Athletic Conference Championship game broke the school record set in 2017. The 2018 Tigers finished with the first 7,000-yard season (7,324) in program history and also broke the single-season touchdown record with 80.Â
The single-season rushing record was shattered during year three of the Norvell-era with the Tigers boasting two, 1,000-yard backs for the first time in program history. Darrell Henderson, a Doak Walker Award finalist, led the running game with 1,909 yards and the Tigers finished with the school-record 3,919 total yards on the ground and 48 touchdowns.Â
Players have also had national-level recognition within Norvell’s offense. Riley Ferguson and Anthony Miller blossomed at quarterback and receiver, respectively, and Henderson emerged as the nation’s premier running back. Ferguson finished his career at Memphis with 7,955 passing yards, ranking third in program history despite only being on the roster for two seasons. Ferguson’s 70 passing touchdowns ranks second only to four-year starter Danny Wimprine in the Memphis record book.
Miller became just the third Tiger and the first skill position player in school history to earn NCAA Consensus All-American honors after finishing his career with 3,590 receiving yards and 238 catches. The 238 catches set a new Memphis career mark and his 3,590 yards in three seasons made Miller the first Tiger in school history to have over 3,000 career receiving yards. Miller, who tied for the national lead with 18 touchdown receptions in 2017, finished his career with 37 receiving touchdowns, 15 more than the previous career mark at Memphis.
Henderson became the second running back in program history to be named a finalist for the Doak Walker Award after DeAngelo Williams was named a finalist in 2005. Henderson was the nation’s second-leading rusher with 1,909 rushing yards on 214 carries. He also led the nation in all-purpose yards with 2,328, touchdowns with 25, and total plays of 40-plus yards with 15.
The work of the Memphis offensive line under Norvell’s direction has not gone unnoticed. In three seasons at Memphis, a trio of offensive linemen have earned all-conference honors. Gabe Kuhn (guard) and Trevon Tate (tackle) were first team honorees in 2017 and Dustin Woodard was a first team honoree at guard in 2018. Collectively, the unit was one of ten semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, given to the best offensive line in college football, in 2018.
While the offense flourished in Norvell’s first three seasons at Memphis, the Tigers defense and special teams were not to be overshadowed. After turning opponents over 29 times in 2016, the Tigers forced 31 turnovers in 2017, ranking third in the nation. Memphis’ 15 fumble recoveries ranked tied for fourth in the country.
Linebacker Genard Avery repeated back-to-back first team all-conference honors and finished his career among the top three in program history in career sacks (2nd, 21.5) and tackles for loss (3rd, 41.5). In 2017, freshman defensive back T.J. Carter also made a name for himself in the Tiger secondary, earning USA Today Freshman All-America honors after finishing fifth on the team with 69 tackles and leading the squad with five interceptions.
After ranking 11th in turnover margin in Norvell’s first year at Memphis, the Tigers’ ranked third (1.15) in 2017, thanks in part to an offense that turned the ball over just six times in 13 games.
The focus Norvell and his staff placed on the game’s third phase, special teams, has paid major dividends in his time at Memphis, including bringing to an end what is believed to be the longest drought for a kickoff return for a touchdown in FBS history. In the 2016 win over Temple, freshman Tony Pollard took an Owls’ kickoff racing 95 yards for a touchdown, the first by a Memphis player since November of 1996. The span of time was nearly 21 seasons, but the 2016 Tigers special teams laid that record to rest and then some. Not to stop there, Norvell’s special teams ran back two more kickoffs for scores and set the program’s season record for kick returns for touchdowns with three. Pollard had a second kick-return score (100 yards vs. Navy), and Darrell Henderson added another (99 yards vs. SMU). The three kick returns for touchdowns were tied for the FBS lead in 2016.Â
Pollard continued to showcase his special teams prowess in 2017, returning four kickoffs for touchdowns and earning first team Walter Camp All-American honors after leading the country in kickoff return yards per game (42.4) and kickoff return touchdowns (four). Pollard also grabbed his second consecutive American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year honor in 2017. In the 2018 Birmingham Bowl, in what would be his final game as a Memphis Tiger, Pollard ran back a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to tie the NCAA career record with seven.
In 2016, Memphis had the second-best kick return defense in the country, allowing opponents a mere 16.04 yards per return and none returned for touchdowns. A major reason for the Tigers’ success on kick return defense was Lou Groza semifinalist Jake Elliott’s 64 touch backs out of 92 kickoffs (69.6 percent). Elliott’s 64 touch backs led The American and was third nationally. After Elliott graduated and moved on to the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles roster in his rookie year, Norvell and his staff tapped freshman Riley Patterson to handle kicking duties and the Tigers still ranked among the country’s best, finishing 13th in kickoff return defense (17.75 ypr).
Off the field, Norvell’s Tigers are also excelling in the classroom. The team posted its highest grade-point average in program history in the fall of 2017 and in his three seasons at the helm of the Tigers, 55 football players have earned their respective bachelor’s degrees.
Norvell earned both his bachelor’s (education in social studies, 2005) and master’s (training systems, 2007) degrees from Central Arkansas.
Norvell is married to the former Maria Chiolino of Fort Smith, Arkansas. They have a daughter, Mila.
