College Football’s black excellence: The first Power 5 Athletic Directors

The late Merritt Norvell opened the door for black Athletic Directors in the Big Ten.

Before Gene Smith became athletic director of the top football program in the Big Ten, there was a lesser-known yet impactful name; Merritt Norvell, Jr. If the last name seems familiar, he is the late father of Nevada head coach Jay Norvell. The former Norvell was destined to be part of the Big Ten in some impactful way.

Norvell was Big Ten through and through. Before becoming an administrator at Michigan State, Norvell cut his teeth at the University of Wisconsin, first as a player, then as a board member. Most impactful, Norvell oversaw the Special Olympics in Wisconsin. Norvell became one of the first (if not the first) black Athletic Directors of a Power Five school and the first in Michigan State History.

During Norvell’s tenure, he oversaw Tom Izzo and Nick Saban. Known as a masterful fundraiser, Norvell raised 7.5 million dollars for the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center and a $5-million renovation to Spartan Stadium and surrounding areas. He led the $3.8-million project to add suites to Munn Ice Arena. During his tenure, advertising and sponsorship revenue grew 183 percent.

Norvell passed in October of 2020 at 79 years old.