Reports: Jay Norvell to be named next head coach at CSU

LARAMIE -- After a five-year stint in Reno, Jay Norvell is changing addresses but not conferences.

Norvell is expected to be named the new head coach at Colorado State Monday, replacing Steve Addazio, who was fired last week after just two seasons in Fort Collins, according to Kevin Lytle of The Coloradoan.

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Norvell went 33-26 overall at Nevada and was 23-17 in Mountain West play.

The Wisconsin native was the lowest paid coach in the league in 2021 (Troy Calhoun's salary at Air Force is not public) at just $619,250 annually. Addazio was the second-highest paid coach -- behind only Wyoming's Craig Bohl ($1,594,508) -- at $1,550,000.

Bohl is very familiar with the Norvell family.

In 1982, Wyoming's head coach, then a linebackers coach at Wisconsin, coached Norvell's brother, Aaron Norvell, who was a linebacker for the Badgers. Bohl also knew his father, Merritt Norvell.

Just before the Cowboys and Wolf Pack opened the 2020 season in Reno, Norvell's father passed away.

"I know it's been an emotional week for Nevada and coach Jay Norvell," Bohl said after a 37-34 overtime loss inside Mackay Stadium. "I knew his dad, he was an athletic director at Michigan State. He did so many things for college athletics. It's always tough to lose a game, but if there is ever a game ... I'm happy for Jay Norvell and the Norvell family."

Norvell was 1-1 against his new Border War rivals during his time in Reno. Wyoming knocked off the Wolf Pack 31-3 in Laramie in 2019.

Nevada (8-4) will take on Western Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl Dec. 27 in Detroit.

Norvell's coaching history:

1986-87 - Graduate assistant - Iowa

1988 - Wide receivers coach - Northern Iowa

1989-94 - OL/ WR/ TE - Wisconsin

1995-97 - QB/ WR - Iowa State

1998-01 - WR coach - Indianapolis Colts

2002-03 - TE coach - Oakland Raiders

2004-06 - OC/ QB - Nebraska

2007 - OC/ QB - UCLA

2008-14 - OC/ WR - Oklahoma