Former Mountain West Head Coach Returns to Iowa as Running Backs Coach

Jay Norvell, who spent the past 9 years as a head coach, is back at his alma mater to coach running backs for the Hawkeyes.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:18pm

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A cubist, geometric painting in black, gold, and white, depicting fragmented and overlapping shapes representing a football game or practice, conveying the conceptual idea of a coach returning to his alma mater.Norvell's return to his Iowa roots brings a new geometric energy to the Hawkeyes' coaching staff.Iowa City Today

Jay Norvell, a former head coach in the Mountain West conference, has returned to the University of Iowa, his alma mater, to take on the role of running backs coach. Norvell, who spent the previous 9 years as a head coach, is excited to be back in Iowa City and work under the influence of legendary former head coach Hayden Fry.

Why it matters

Norvell's return to Iowa represents an experienced coach coming back to his roots, bringing a wealth of knowledge and perspective from his time as a head coach. His familiarity with the program and connection to Hayden Fry could provide valuable insight and mentorship to the current Hawkeyes team.

The details

After spending the previous 9 seasons as a head coach in the Mountain West conference, Norvell took an analyst position with the Iowa program this past winter. That quickly turned into a full-time coaching role as the Hawkeyes' running backs coach. Norvell spoke to the media for the first time since rejoining the Iowa staff, discussing his time as a player under Hayden Fry and the emotions of returning to his alma mater in a coaching capacity.

  • Norvell spent the previous 9 seasons as a head coach in the Mountain West conference.
  • This past winter, Norvell took an analyst position with the Iowa program.
  • Norvell was then hired as the Hawkeyes' running backs coach.

The players

Jay Norvell

A former player at the University of Iowa who has spent the past 9 years as a head coach in the Mountain West conference. He is now the running backs coach for the Hawkeyes.

Hayden Fry

The legendary former head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, who had a significant influence on Norvell during his time as a player.

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What they’re saying

“I'm excited to be back at Iowa and work under the influence of Coach Fry again. This program means a lot to me.”

— Jay Norvell, Running Backs Coach

The takeaway

Norvell's return to Iowa represents an experienced coach reconnecting with his roots and the influential figure of Hayden Fry, which could provide valuable mentorship and insight to the current Hawkeyes team.