• Stoops’ former teammate coming to Norman; this time he plans to stay a while

Oklahoma’s coaching staff for the 2008 season became official Thursday with the announcement Jay Norvell has been hired as co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach.

It is the second time Norvell has joined OU coach Bob Stoops’ staff. He was briefly hired for the same positions in 2002, but left after a month to join Bill Callahan’s staff with the Oakland Raiders.

Stoops had no reservations about bringing Norvell back.

“Jay has a varied and impressive background of coaching both college and professional football and we are excited that he is coming to Oklahoma,” Stoops said. “He brings with him expertise in both coaching and recruiting and we feel there are significant contributions that he can make to our program.”

Stoops and Norvell were both defensive backs at Iowa in the early 1980s. But this will be the first time they’ve coached together.

“I’m so excited to work with Bob and the staff there,” Norvell said. “I have so much respect for that program. The talent of the team, the quality of the staff and the tremendous support all mean so much to me. I’ve worked at a lot of schools and I know that this is a special situation.

“I’ve known Bob for a long time and he is tops. Several of the assistant coaches are good friends too, so there are just so many positive aspects to this move.”

Norvell was the offensive coordinator at UCLA this past season and served in the same capacity at Nebraska from 2004-2006.

His college coaching credentials also include stints as an offensive assistant at Iowa, Wisconsin and Iowa State.

From 1998-2003, Norvell worked as an assistant in the NFL, coaching wide receivers with the Indianapolis Colts and tight ends in Oakland.

“I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of different experiences at the college and pro level, including coaching in a Super Bowl,” Norvell said. “I know the Big 12 and I know the defenses in that league. I feel like I can contribute in both coaching and recruiting.”

The Sooners have been short a coach since Kevin Sumlin left to become Houston’s head coach following the Fiesta Bowl.

John Shinn

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