Michael Kelly Norvell born October 11, 1981 is an American college football coach currently serving as the head football coach at Florida State University, a position he has held since 2020. Prior to his tenure at Florida State, Norvell was the head coach at Memphis and has also coached at Arizona State, Pittsburgh, Tulsa, and Central Arkansas. As a player, he was a wide receiver at the University of Central Arkansas from 2001 to 2005, where he became the school’s all-time leader in receptions. Norvell played wide receiver at Grace Preparatory Academy in Arlington, Texas, where he was coached by former Houston Oilers tight end Mike Barber. Due to his smaller physical stature, Norvell decided to take a year off after high school before pursuing college football.
Mike Norvell Biography 2025
During this time, he enrolled in online college courses and worked as an assistant coach at Grace Prep in the fall of 1999, at the age of 17. In 2000, Norvell walked on to the Louisiana Tech football team before transferring to the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in 2001. There, he set the school’s all-time receptions record with 213 catches, 2,611 receiving yards, and 15 receiving touchdowns. Additionally, he recorded one rushing touchdown and two passing touchdowns during his college career. In his senior season in 2005, Norvell helped lead the UCA Bears to a Gulf South Conference championship and a quarterfinals appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs, finishing with an 11–3 record.
Mike Norvell Biography Details
| Title |
Head coach |
| Team |
Florida State |
| Conference |
ACC |
| Record |
33–27 |
| Annual salary |
$9.785 million (2025) |
| Born |
October 11, 1981 (age 43)
Irving, Texas, U.S. |
| 2000 |
Louisiana Tech |
| 2001–2005 |
Central Arkansas |
| Position(s) |
Wide receiver |
Mike Norvell Early Life
Norvell is married to Maria Norvell (Chiolino), and together they have a daughter. In 2007, Norvell began his coaching career at Tulsa, working under Gus Malzahn. His first role as an offensive coordinator came at Pittsburgh, where he worked with Todd Graham. The following year, Norvell followed Graham to Arizona State to serve as the offensive coordinator.
Mike Norvell Bio
| Personal Information |
Details |
| Full Name |
Michael Kelly Norvell |
| Date of Birth |
October 11, 1981 |
| Place of Birth |
Irving, Texas, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Maria Norvell (Chiolino) |
| Children |
One daughter |
| College |
University of Central Arkansas |
| Position Played |
Wide Receiver |
Mike Norvell Playing Career
| Year |
College Team |
| 2000 |
Louisiana Tech (Walk-on) |
| 2001-2005 |
Central Arkansas |
Coaching Career Early Roles
| Year |
Team/Position |
| 2006 |
Central Arkansas (Graduate Assistant) |
| 2007-2008 |
Tulsa (Graduate Assistant) |
| 2009 |
Tulsa (PGC/WR) |
| 2010 |
Tulsa (PGC/WR/DR) |
Mike Norvell Coaching Career at Memphis
| Year |
Record at Memphis |
| 2016 |
8–5 |
| 2017 |
10–3 |
| 2018 |
8–6 |
| 2019 |
12–2 |
Mike Norvell Success at Florida State
| Year |
Record at Florida State |
| 2020 |
3–6 |
| 2021 |
5–7 |
| 2022 |
10–3 |
| 2023 |
13–0 |
Mike Norvell Contract and Salary Details
| Year |
Contract Details |
| 2020 |
$26.5 million over 6 years |
| 2025 |
$9.785 million (Annual Salary) |
Coaching Achievements and Awards
| Award |
Year |
| Paul “Bear” Bryant Award |
2023 |
| Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award |
2023 |
| ACC Coach of the Year |
2023 |
| AFCA Regional Coach of the Year |
2023 |
Mike Norvell Offensive Strategy at Memphis
| Strategy |
Details |
| Offensive Style |
High-tempo, pass-oriented spread offense |
| Key Players |
Riley Ferguson (QB), Antonio Gibson (WR), Brady White (QB) |
| Key Achievement |
AAC Championship in 2019 |
Florida State Season Performance
| Opponent |
Result |
| Louisville |
Won (ACC Championship) |
| LSU |
Won (24-23) |
| Wake Forest |
Lost |
| NC State |
Lost |
| Syracuse |
Won (38–3) |
| Florida |
Won (49–17) |
Mike Norvell Coaching Philosophy
| Philosophy Aspect |
Details |
| Player Development |
Focus on holistic development both on and off the field |
| Offensive Flexibility |
Adapts playbook based on strengths of players |
| Relentless Work Ethic |
Strong emphasis on hard work, discipline, and preparation |
Bowl Game History under Mike Norvell
| Year |
Bowl Game |
Result |
| 2020 |
No Bowl |
N/A |
| 2021 |
Cheez-It Bowl |
Win (35-32) |
| 2022 |
No Bowl |
N/A |
| 2023 |
Orange Bowl |
Loss (63-3) |
Mike Norvell Key Players at Florida State
| Player |
Position |
| Jordan Travis |
Quarterback |
| Johnny Wilson |
Wide Receiver |
| Jared Verse |
Defensive End |
Mike Norvell Influence on Recruiting
| Year |
Recruiting Ranking |
| 2020 |
16th Nationally |
| 2021 |
18th Nationally |
| 2022 |
10th Nationally |
| 2023 |
5th Nationally |
Impact on Florida State Culture
| Aspect |
Details |
| Team Unity |
Strong emphasis on family, culture, and building trust |
| Discipline |
Instills discipline through structure and accountability |
| Competitive Spirit |
Encourages a mindset focused on outworking opponents |
Mike Norvell Impact in the ACC
| Year |
Impact in Conference |
| 2020 |
First win over a ranked team (North Carolina) |
| 2023 |
ACC Champion (First since 2014) |
Mike Norvell Leadership Style
| Characteristic |
Details |
| Visionary |
Strong long-term vision for program growth |
| Player-Centric |
Focuses on the personal and athletic development of players |
| Adaptable |
Adjusts leadership approach to the needs of the team |
Mike Norvell Net Worth
Mike Norvell net worth is estimated at least $84.2 million.
Mike Norvell Summary
Mike Norvell is a dynamic football coach with a proven track record of developing explosive offenses and turning programs around. From his roots as a wide receiver at Central Arkansas to his time coaching at Florida State, Norvell’s impact on college football has been profound. His coaching philosophy, which emphasizes player development, discipline, and adaptability, has guided Florida State to great success in recent years. His leadership continues to shape the Seminoles into one of the premier programs in the country.
