4. Mike Norvell
People have suggested Dino Babers to Maryland but Babers has his Air Raid system in place, is in a Power 5 conference, and is already making $2.4 Million at Syracuse. I understand that being close to Virginia Beach and the Tidewater area in general makes for easier recruiting but would Babers want to risk leaving a program he’s rebuilt for another rebuild?
That’s why Mike Norvell makes a lot of sense. He is making $2.6 Million at Memphis, which is more than Durkin was at Maryland. However, Memphis is a Group of 5 school as part of the AAC with obvious hindrances to the top bowls and a clear shot at the College Football Playoff. Memphis is in a recruiting hotbed which will make it hard to leave that area when a job like Georgia Tech or Ole Miss could also become available this cycle.
Norvell was born in Texas, and played collegiately in Arkansas. However, he’s not just a southwestern name as he’s coached at Pittsburgh, Arizona State and Memphis in addition to Tulsa. While the head coach at Memphis, Norvell’s program has posted a 22-12 record after taking over from current Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Justin Fuente. The Tigers are 4-4 in 2018 and ranked 36th per the S&P+.
Coach Norvell might have waited too long to push out of Memphis as the Tigers are still fighting for bowl eligibility heading into week 10 of the season. However, the crown jewel of Memphis is the offense where they’re currently ranked fourth in yards per play and seventh in points per play. It wouldn’t be as drastic of a pay increase as it would be for my next pick but it would be a bump into a Power 5 conference and that’s enough for a lot of coaches to make the jump.