Chad Leistikow | Des Moines Register

The Iowa football program is bringing back a familiar (and proven) name to bolster its offensive staff for the 2026 season.

Jay Norvell, an All-Big Ten Conference safety during Iowa’s historic 1985 season, will join the Hawkeyes as an offensive analyst, a source with direct knowledge of the hiring confirmed to the Des Moines Register on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Norvell has been a Division I head coach during the past nine seasons, assembling a 33-26 record in five years at Nevada before going 18-26 in three-plus years at Colorado State this past fall. Norvell was fired by the Rams on Oct. 19 after a 2-5 start.

Norvell, 62, later Wednesday confirmed his addition to the Iowa staff, saying on social media: “Grateful to back at Iowa with Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes. I owe so much to the University of Iowa. Look forward to giving back! Go Hawks!”

Norvell essentially fills the vacancy that was opened after analyst Warren Ruggerio — the former Wake Forest offensive coordinator — left Iowa after one season to join James Franklin’s new staff at Virginia Tech.

However, Norvell will mostly work with the Iowa tight ends, the source told the Register. The plan is for Billy VandeMerkt, who was working with the tight ends, to assume Ruggerio’s former role of assisting Lester with the offense and game plans.

VandeMerkt has four years of NFL coaching experience with the New York Jets and was on Lester’s staff at Western Michigan from 2017-19. It would be a big win if Lester can retain VandeMerkt for a second season at Iowa, though, as we know, the coaching carousel never really completely stops as numerous NFL jobs and staffs are still being sorted out.

Norvell will be a welcome asset. He had seven interceptions for the Hawkeyes in the 1985 season, during which current head coach Kirk Ferentz was in his fifth season coaching Iowa’s offensive line under Hayden Fry. Iowa reached No. 1 in the national rankings in 1985 and won the Big Ten outright to earn a Rose Bowl berth.