Dec. 16, 2011

TEMPE, Ariz. -- A key figure in Todd Graham's high-octane offensive attack, Mike Norvell has been named an assistant football coach at Arizona State University, Coach Graham has announced.

Norvell has worked with Coach Graham for the past five seasons at Tulsa and Pitt, starting as an offensive graduate assistant and receivers coach with Tulsa. He spent two seasons as passing game coordinator and receivers coach before adding director of recruiting to his title in 2010. At Pitt in 2011, Norvell was the co-offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach and director of recruiting.

While with Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane had five 1,000-yard receivers emerge underNorvell's tutelage. His most accomplished pupil was All-America receiver Damaris Johnson, who led the country in all-purpose yards for two consecutive years and set the all-time NCAA FBS record for that category with 7,796 career yards.

Johnson averaged 202.2 all-purpose yards per game in 2010. In Tulsa's 62-35 win over Hawai'i in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, he averaged an incredible 21.73 yards per touch en route to 326 all-purpose yards.

In 2008, Norvell's receivers were a vital part of college football's most prolific offense. Tulsa averaged an astounding 569.9 yards per game that season to lead the country. The Golden Hurricane ranked second nationally in scoring (47.1points/game) and ninth in passing yards (301.8 yards/game).

Tulsa also topped the country in total offense in 2007 (543.9 yards/game) and set 29 school records, 15 Conference USA marks and four NCAA records. The '07 Golden Hurricane became the first team in NCAA history to have a 5,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and three 1,000-yard receivers in a single season.

Prior to Tulsa, Norvell was an offensive graduate assistant at his alma mater, Central Arkansas. In addition to coaching receivers and H-Backs, he was a significant contributor to UCA's special teams.

Norvell was accomplished on the field and in the classroom at Central Arkansas. A four-year starter at receiver, he finished his career as the school's all-time leader in receptions (213) and ranked third in receiving yards (2,611). Norvell earned All-Gulf South honors and was the conference's 2001 Freshman of the Year. He also was a two-time first-team Gulf South All-Academic honoree.

Norvell earned his bachelor's degree of education in social studies in 2005 and a master's degree in training systems in 2007, both from UCA.