Michael Vick named Norfolk State University’s head football coach

Former NFL quarterback and Virginia native Michael Vick has been named as the new head football coach at Norfolk State University.

Vick’s new position was officially announced at a Monday, Dec. 23, press conference at the historically Black university.

Michael Vick hired as Norfolk State’s head football coach

During the press conference, Vick described the process of being hired, saying it took around three weeks in total. Vick was also asked about the value of being a coach at an HBCU.

“I understand the value of a HBCU,” Vick said. “The fact that it is in my hometown makes it even better. And so, it’s a great admiration for HBCUs, the NFL has numerous partnerships with HBCUs, so I think it shows that people care, you know, you’ve got these big time Division 1 programs where they’ve got all these amazing things, bells and whistles, money, and they tend to forget about the HBCUs and the schools that have the same type of prominence, and so, to start here, it wasn’t even by design.”

Sports analyst

Before taking the position, Vick was a sports analyst at FOX Sports. He became emotional on “NFL on FOX” as he spoke about accepting the top position, saying, “When you’ve got a chance to go lead young men in your community, where I grew up watching this team… I’ve got what it takes.”

After Vick was officially hired at NSU, he released a statement saying in part,

“I am blessed and humbled by this opportunity to lead, mentor, and transform the football program at Norfolk State University.”