Colorado State has fired head coach Jay Norvell after a 2-5 start to the 2025 season, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Sunday.
The move comes a day after the Rams suffered a 31-19 home loss to Hawaii, their second significant defeat to the Warriors in three years. Norvell compiled an 18-26 overall record across four seasons at CSU.
After leading the Rams to an 8-5 record and their first bowl game since 2017 last year, expectations were high. But inconsistency and underwhelming performances plagued his tenure. CSU ranks outside the top 100 nationally in both scoring offense and defense this fall.
Colorado State went 8-5 last year. Best season at the school since 2014 under Jim McElwain. Until last year, they had not made a bowl since 2017 under Mike Bobo. Https://t.co/Lwuzb3qKXg
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 19, 2025
Norvell, who previously found success at Nevada, helped improve roster talent and beat rivals like Boise State, Air Force, and Wyoming. However, losses to rivals like Colorado and a rocky start to 2025 ultimately led the administration to seek a new direction as CSU prepares for its future in the Pac-12.
There's no secret Norvell tried to play up the school's biggest rivalry with the Colorado Buffaloes and Deion Sanders. Before the first matchup between the two coaches in 2023, Norvell infamously took a shot at the Hall of Famer by saying, "When I talk to grown-ups, I take my hat off and my glasses off. That's what my mother taught me. (Colorado's) not going to like us no matter what we do or say."
Episode 3 of “Coach Prime” reveals the interaction between Coach Prime and Jay Norvell on the field after Norvell infamously said:
— RK (@RyanKoenigsberg) December 14, 2023
“When I talk to grownups, I take my hat and my glasses off. That’s what my mother taught me.” Pic.twitter.com/3RRa4VeIgW
Sanders didn't take those comments too kindly, sparking the "It's personal" campaign after that point. The postgame handshake resulted in then Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders having to remind his dad no to put his hands on Norvell. Kim Norvell, Jay's wife, later called Shedeur a "B-" over the incident when it was streamed during Coach Prime Season Two on Prime Video. Colorado has never lost to CSU with Coach Prime at the helm.
Colorado State will look for a new head coach at the right time with many expected to be available.
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