Norvell agrees to extension through ’23
Memphis football coach Mike Norvell has agreed to a one-year contract extension that will run through the 2023 season, athletics director Tom Bowen announced Tuesday.
The contract keeps Norvell's deal at five years, the maximum allowed by the state, and comes on the heels of the Tigers finishing 8-6 this past season and repeating as AAC West Division champions.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
“We wanted to show Coach Norvell that we appreciate the work he has put into elevating our football program,” Bowen said in a statement released by the school. “Back-to-back American Athletic Conference championship game appearances, three strong recruiting classes, with more coming on board (Wednesday), and helping our program to an unprecedented five straight bowl appearances deserves a show of support.
"We are proud to be able to put a year back on his deal and keep him at the maximum five years.”
It's the third consecutive year that Norvell has agreed to an extension at Memphis. In 2017, Norvell agreed to a new five-year, $13 million contract that ran through 2022 and made him the highest paid non-power 5 coach in the country at the time.
He also signed a one-year extension after the 2016 season.
Prior to the announcement, Norvell sent out a tweet Tuesday morning thanking Memphis president David Rudd and the Memphis athletics department for their continued support but did not mention specifically any
news on an extension.
"Grateful to @uofmemphis @Uofmemphispres and @Tigersathletics for the continued support and commitment to our program / staff. It’s a honor and privilege to represent our University and the city of Memphis every single day! We will continue to #Keepclimbing in all we do! #Tigerfam," Norvell said on Twitter.
The latest extension comes two months after Norvell announced on Twitter that he would be returning for a fourth season with Memphis. In December, he was mentioned as a potential head coaching candidate for vacancies at Louisville and Kansas State.
Norvell's buyout remained at $500,000 after his extension after the 2017 season.
With Norvell's previous two extensions, the salary pool for his assistants was raised by $250,000 each time. Norvell's staff in 2018 was the highest paid non-power 5 staff in the country.
In each of Norvell's first three seasons, the Tigers reached a bowl game. Memphis has appeared in a bowl game for five consecutive seasons, extending a program record.
Norvell's 26 wins are the most any Memphis coach has had over a threeyear span.
Memphis is also coming off a season in which the offense was ranked in the top five nationally for the second consecutive year and running back Darrell Henderson was named a unanimous All-american.
Follow Tigers football beat writer Evan Barnes on Twitter @Evan_b or email him at evan.barnes@commercialappeal.com.