Ex-NFL QB Vick introduced as Norfolk St. coach

NORFOLK, Va. -- To shouts of "Coach" and "Let's go, Spartans," Michael Vick was introduced Monday arsenic Norfolk State's shot coach, a homecoming for the erstwhile NFL prima and a splashy, attention-grabbing prosecute for a programme that has struggled successful caller years.

Vick, who grew up astir 30 minutes distant successful Newport News, donned a Norfolk State letterman's overgarment and headdress successful beforehand of a crowd of supporters that included chap Hampton Roads, Virginia, sports greats Allen Iverson and Bruce Smith.

Vick's preamble was the culmination of a whirlwind courtship, the timing of which took moreover Vick by surprise.

"I was talking to my precocious schoolhouse coach a mates weeks ago, and I told him I wanted to beryllium a shot coach 1 day, a mates years from now," he said.

Vick said he past sewage a astonishment telephone from erstwhile Virginia Tech shot subordinate Aaron Rouse, who is now a Virginia authorities senator, and Norfolk State diversion head Melody Webb, gauging his liking successful becoming the Spartans' coach.

"It wasn't the easiest determination to make," Vick said. "I've sewage family that I considered, I attraction astir and I love. This requires a batch of alteration successful lifestyle. But astatine the aforesaid time, it allows maine to service young men successful my community."

Vick led Virginia Tech to the nationalist title crippled arsenic a redshirt freshman and was selected No. 1 wide successful the 2001 NFL draught by the Atlanta Falcons. A three-time Pro Bowl prime successful six seasons successful Atlanta, he revolutionized the backmost position pinch his move moving ability.

Vick's profession was derailed by his condemnation successful 2007 for his engagement successful a dogfighting ring. He pleaded blameworthy and served 21 months successful national situation earlier resuming his profession successful 2009. He retired successful 2017 and had been moving arsenic an NFL expert for Fox Sports and arsenic an animal authorities activist.

Vick's ineligible troubles were not mentioned Monday, isolated from indirectly by Webb, who praised his expertise to "inspire and flooded challenges" and said it is successful keeping pinch the values the schoolhouse wants to instill successful its student-athletes.

"His travel is 1 of resilience and redemption and unwavering committedness to growth," Webb said.

Vick has nary coaching acquisition and is the latest erstwhile NFL prima who had not coached earlier to return the helm of an HBCU program, a nine that includes Deion Sanders and Eddie George.

Norfolk State has made only 1 playoff quality since moving to FCS successful 1997. The past 5 Spartan caput coaches person had losing records, including Dawson Odoms, who was fired successful November aft going 15-30 successful 4 seasons.

School officials hailed Vick's hiring arsenic transformational, however. Webb said Vick's sanction "resonates astir the world."

Added rector Kim Brown: "Today we move the area and we clasp a caller play for our shot program."

For his part, Vick said he won't beryllium outworked, and that he will enlistee difficult successful his location region, agelong a hotbed of talent. He said he attended Norfolk State games while playing younker shot successful Newport News and has followed the programme complete the years.

"It's a batch of unit being successful your hometown," he said. "I've ever thrived disconnected it."