Norfolk State officially named Michael Vick its head football coach in December 2024. They counted on Atlanta’s No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft to rebuild their program from scratch. Right after stepping up, Vick added eight assistant coaches to bolster his staff. Nine months in and 1-6 start later, the Norfolk State head coach has hit the ‘refresh’ button, shaking up his coaching roster. It’s all a bit confusing, but Vick has answers ready.

 “Being the first year head coach, having to make the decision that I made, it wasn’t easy… And nor did I ever think that I would be making a decision like that mid-season. You look in the crystal ball and, you know, you see all good things. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. I’m not gonna, act like it was things that happened that I didn’t like. I expect a certain standard. And so, I’m gonna always live by that,” said Vick in his latest presser, as shared by reporter James Katta on X. 

He confirmed that changes had been made to his defensive staff, though he stopped short of naming specifics. “There were just changes,” Vick said. “My job as head coach is to put our players in the best situation possible. If that means making adjustments, that’s what I’ll do.” But, if reports are to be believed, two of the names on the list are definitely out. 

It’s Defensive coordinator Terence Garvin and defensive backs coach Jabo Smith. Vick has yet to shortlist the third coach, whom he is going to get rid of. The desperation to revamp the staff is genuine.

 After all, Vick’s program allowed 34.7 points per game and over 425 yards per game in each of its first seven games. When it came to their defense, the wheels fell off. They had a hard time stopping the run and proved incapable of stopping passes. Time of possession tells another discouraging story. Michael Vick’s boys struggle to stop the clock, as opponents dominate possession for 32 minutes and convert half their third-down tries.

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So, even though 34-year-old Gavin walked in with years of experience playing in the NFL, it could not save him from drowning. On the other hand, Smith had previously served as the other co-defensive coordinator at Florida Memorial. 

His move now is all about establishing the “standard” he talks about and reshaping their defense. And let’s not forget, they also have to develop a strong game plan to challenge South Carolina State. “Now that we’re in conference play, this is where our season lies,” Vick added. “It’s anybody’s ball game. We’ve faced tough competition, and this week is about mistake-free football… It’s going to be a good test for us.” Kickoff is set for 2 PM ET on Saturday at Dick Price Stadium for Homecoming 2025.

As for the players, Vick has already credited them for staying resilient amid the coaching changes. “My players are going to follow me in everything I do. They thrive off my energy. I take full responsibility for everything that happens..I’m learning every day and enjoying every minute of it.” Well, because Norfolk State hired Vick despite his lack of prior coaching experience.

The interesting options on Michael Vick’s plate 

The Virginia Tech Hokies were the first program to move on from their head coach, firing Brent Pry after a 0-3 start to the season. That’s when Vick’s name popped up. After all, he is a familiar face to the Virginia Tech squad. After redshirting in 1998, he took off as Virginia Tech’s starting quarterback in 1999 and 2000. He led the Hokies to an undefeated 11-0 regular season in 1999 and punched a BCS National Championship Game ticket. Vick’s close ones further stirred the pot about his return to his alma mater.

On September 14, CBS Sports editor, Roger Gonzalez, tweeted, “Dipping into CFB regarding VT gig: Source close to Mike Vick tells me he’d definitely be interested, but he really wants to get NSU right too. He really likes being at NSU, but Tech is a special place to him. I think he would listen because it’s Tech … he would talk.”

Vick took matters into his own hands to stop the matter from flowing too far. “This team’s got to follow my lead,” Vick told HBCU Gameday. “My primary focus right now is Norfolk State. That’s all we can focus on.” However, Virginia Tech’s move to bring in its alum might be a gamble. After firing Pry, they need someone strong to hold the reins. In this case, Vick is light on experience. But at least he took a wild risk to stay committed to football. Likewise, Vick almost ended up choosing baseball over football.

However, his Virginia Tech coach, Frank Beamer, helped him figure things out. Michael Vick recalled in an interview, “Coach Beamer talked me out of it. He was like, ‘You know, you’re gonna make so much money in the NFL.’ And I believed him. I trusted him. But I’m like, ‘Coach, that $25,000, we can use that back home right now’.”

Vick’s taking small steps to build a strong football program that he won’t have to look back on.