The Norfolk State Spartans (MEAC) are making a headline hire: Michael Vick will be the school’s next football head coach. Vick was in the NFL for 15 seasons and grew up in nearby Newport News, Virginia.
Vick doesn’t have previous head coaching experience, previously was a consultant for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football, and has been a studio analyst for Fox’s NFL coverage. Vick will replace former head coach Dawson Odums, who went 15-31 overall and 7-13 in conference games during his four years at Norfolk State. Odums went 6-5, 2-9, 3-8, and 4-8 in those four seasons.
Norfolk State has seen limited success since joining the FCS (then I-AA) and the MEAC in 1997. They won the 2011 MEAC title and made their lone FCS Playoff appearance in a 35-18 first-round loss at Old Dominion. The title was subsequently stripped by the NCAA in 2016 due to participation by ineligible players. The most recent “official” conference championship occurred in 1984 when head coach Willard Bailey led them to the NCAA Division II CIAA Championship.
Vick’s first game is set for Thursday, August 28 at home against Towson (CAA) and his first game against an FBS school will be at Rutgers (Big Ten) on Saturday, September 13.
Photo Credit to AP Photo / Chris O’Meara
