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Florida Gators possible coaching candidate: Mike Norvell

Memphis' head coach could be up for an SEC job. Will it be the Gators?
 
Published Nov. 16, 2017

No matter what rumors you're seeing on Twitter, we're still days (maybe weeks) away from the Florida Gators naming their next head coach. That gives us plenty of time to examine some potential candidates to replace Jim McElwain. Next up (ordered by Bovada's betting odds)

Mike Norvell

Memphis head coach

Age: 36

Odds he's UF's next head coach (per Bovada): 7/1

Why he makes sense: If the Gators want to go with one of the youngest up-and-comers, Norvell is the guy. His Tigers have the nation's No. 6 scoring offense (just below Urban Meyer's Buckeyes). The passing game ranks in the top 30 nationally in yards per attempt (29th), rating (20th) and touchdowns (eighth).

In Norvell's first season, he won eight games – most ever by a first-year Tigers coach. He has already matched that now (8-1) for a top-25 team that could win the AAC. Norvell also has some marquee victories (against a nationally ranked Houston team last year, 48-45 over UCLA in September. That's impressive at a program that is not known for football.

Before becoming a head coach, he worked under Todd Graham and led top-25 offenses at Arizona State. He was previously on a Tulsa staff that put up ridiculous numbers (almost 570 yards of offense per game in 2008). Norvell's previous titles include recruiting coordinator, and his 2017 recruiting class was No. 2 among Group of Five programs (slightly below UCF). The AAC is not the SEC in recruiting, but those are positive signs.

Why he might not work: Is 36 too young to be the head coach at a big-time program like UF? It doesn't help that Norvell's Tigers were crushed by another potential candidate; Scott Frost's Knights won 40-13 in September. Norvell is a Texas native who went to Central Arkansas and has no SEC experience, or experience coaching in Florida. That's not a deal-breaker, but it's something to consider.

Final thoughts: If Norvell wants a Power Five job now, I think he'll have some opportunities this cycle. I just don't think that opportunity is in Gainesville. Arkansas would make a lot of sense for him. So would Tennessee. Ole Miss might, too. All of those jobs seem like better options for him than UF.