Sherrone Moore Welcomes Jay Norvell as Michigan Opens New NIL Role

Sherrone Moore and the Michigan Wolverines are working hard in the NIL world. They recently went all-in trying to land five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, and now they also have a new opening in their NIL department. Right in the middle of all this, a familiar face showed up in Ann Arbor — former Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell.

On November 19, Norvell shared photos from his visit to Michigan’s camp. He added a message thanking Sherrone Moore and the staff for inviting him. “Thank you to @SheroneMoore and the Michigan Football staff for a great visit last week. Really enjoyed watching them practice. Have great respect for this program,” he wrote.

Norvell has been out of a job for 41 days after being fired on October 19. He was set to earn $1.9 million for the 2025 season, making him the highest-paid employee at Colorado State. Since he has not taken another job yet, people are wondering why Michigan welcomed him to practice.

There’s no confirmed reason, but there are several possible ones. Norvell has a strong coaching record. When he took over a 3-9 Colorado State team, he helped them improve to 5-7 and then 8-5. Before that, at Nevada, he built a solid program with a 33-26 record and four straight bowl trips. Sherrone Moore may have wanted to hear Norvell’s thoughts as Michigan prepares for an important stretch of the season.

Norvell is also known for fixing team culture. Colorado State was struggling badly when he arrived, dealing with losses and off-field issues. He turned things around by treating people with respect and focusing on simple values. Even though the 2025 season has been rough, including a close call against FCS Northern Colorado, his leadership still stands out.

At Nevada, Norvell ran a strong Air Raid offense. Quarterback Carson Strong threw for 4,175 yards and 36 touchdowns in one season. That kind of offensive success makes Norvell a valuable football mind anywhere he goes.

Norvell was once seen as a possible candidate for the Virginia Tech head coaching job, but the Hokies chose James Franklin instead. Meanwhile, Michigan just announced they are hiring a new Director of NIL and Athlete Engagement. This person will handle revenue sharing, NIL programs, athlete marketing, and communication inside the athletic department.

Michigan’s job post says all finalists will go through background checks. With Norvell visiting the Wolverines and the program adding new staff, fans are now wondering: does Jay Norvell fit what Michigan is looking for next?

Also read: James Franklin Shares Why He Picked Virginia Tech Over Other Schools