Mike Norvell to Memphis: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction

It didn't take long for the Memphis Tigers to find a new head football coach. Mike Norvell was hired to be the new leader of the program on Thursday, as initially reported by Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel.

Geoff Calkins of the Commercial Appeal confirmed the Tigers' hire. Norvell will be the successor to Justin Fuente, who was drawn to Virginia Tech as head coach and is undertaking the challenge of following Frank Beamer.   

“There’s a lot of opportunities that have been discussed in my coaching career of places that I could’ve gone, of people I could’ve went and led,” Norvell said, per Clay Bailey of the Associated Press, via the Washington Post. “But I was in such a great situation it had to be right. It had to be all about the fit and all about the family.”

“I believe [Norvell] will continue to build upon our success and create even greater standards of competitive excellence for our program for years to come,” athletic director Tom Bowen said, per Bailey.

After being a record-setting receiver at his alma mater of Central Arkansas, Norvell's coaching career began there as a graduate assistant in 2006, according to TheSunDevils.com. He moved on to wide receivers coach at Tulsa and then Pittsburgh, where he also served as offensive coordinator.

The most recent stop for Norvell was with Arizona State, where he wore numerous hats as the quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator and deputy head coach.

It says a lot about the strong relationship Norvell had with Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham that he was given so much responsibility. USA Today's Dan Wolken hinted at that in his reaction to Thursday's news:

Memphis was wise to bring in a relatively young coach whose expertise is on offense. It helps that the Tigers have built considerable momentum in 2015, but maintaining it will be easier said than done in the near future.

The following analysis from AZCentral.com's Doug Haller should have Tigers fan encouraged the team can still lure adequate talent to the school:

Persuasive and convincing as Norvell might be on the recruiting trail, there is reason for some anxiety about the state of the program at this moment.

The driving force behind Memphis' success en route to a 9-3 record this year has been quarterback Paxton Lynch. A junior in his third year as a starter, Lynch has lit it up with 28 touchdown passes to only three interceptions—and is likely to declare for the 2016 NFL draft as a result.

Replacing someone like Lynch under center won't be easy. Norvell has the type of background to suggest he can handle it. He's well-versed in spread offenses between his time at Tulsa and with the Sun Devils, so his vision shouldn't discourage incoming recruits.