Colorado State has fired head coach Jay Norvell midway through his fourth season at the school, it was announced Sunday.
CSU held a staff meeting Sunday afternoon, where Norvell’s dismissal was revealed, according to a source. The Rams fell to 2-5 following Saturday’s loss to Hawai’i, and Norvell finished with an overall record of 18-26.
“As we prepare to join the Pac-12 Conference next year, we need to position our program to compete at the highest level,” athletic director John Weber said in a statement. “While we’ve seen progress, a change in leadership is necessary to achieve the sustained excellence our program requires.
“We are continuing to invest and work hard to ensure that the football program and the next head coach have the resources needed to capitalize on this historic opportunity.”
Tyson Summers, who is in his second stint as defensive coordinator for the Rams, has been named interim head coach following the firing of Norvell. CSU said it would immediately begin a search for a new head coach.
Norvell, 62, came to Colorado State from Nevada, where he went 33-26 and guided teams to four consecutive bowl appearances. He was a longtime assistant at Power 4 programs, making stops at Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska and Arizona State, among others.
He became the first Black head football coach in CSU history when he signed a five-year deal on Dec. 6, 2021. Norvell will be owed a $1.5 million buyout, according to reports.
“Jay is a leader of the highest character who cares deeply about developing his players as athletes, students, and young men,” Weber said. “… Jay has made this program better during his tenure at CSU.”
The Rams are set to join Utah State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Boise State in a rebuilt version of the Pac-12, which already includes Oregon State and Washington State. The conference added Texas State last month in order to reach the eight-team minimum to be eligible for an automatic bid for its conference champion in the College Football Playoff.
“We have all the ingredients for success here at CSU, and our aspiration is to be the most loved, most watched, and most innovative program in the West,” Weber said. “The next head coach of the Rams will be stepping into a program headed to the Pac-12 with the resources and leadership alignment necessary to win and compete at the highest level.”
Colorado State has one winning season since 2017, which came last fall when the team went 8-5 and reached the Arizona Bowl. Weber, a CSU alum named to the role in May 2024, will be making his first football coaching hire.
The Rams next play at Wyoming next week in the annual Border War.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.