Utes Hire Norm Chow as Offensive Coordinator

Jan. 22, 2011

SALT LAKE CITY -
Norm Chow, recognized as one of the top offensive coaches in college football, is Utah's new offensive coordinator, head coach Kyle Whittingham announced today. Chow brings 38 years of coaching experience to the job, including 35 years as an NCAA assistant coach and three years as an NFL assistant. He was most recently at UCLA, where he spent the last three seasons as the Bruins' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
"Adding Norm Chow to our offensive staff was an opportunity that we couldn't pass up," said Whittingham. "Norm is widely considered one of the top offensive coordinators in the country and his experience at both USC and UCLA will aid us in our transition into the Pac-12 Conference. I have a longstanding relationship with Norm and have a tremendous amount of respect for him and what he has accomplished over the course of his career. His hiring will obviously mean some restructuring within our offensive staff and those details will be announced when they are finalized."
"I am awfully excited to be going back to my alma mater," said Chow. "The University of Utah is where I started my career. I met my wife there. How many people get to go back to their alma mater? This is an exciting day for me."
A three-time national Assistant Coach of the Year, Chow has served as the offensive coordinator for three national championship teams (Brigham Young, 1984; USC 2003 and 2004). One of the game's most credentialed quarterbacks coaches, he has tutored three Heisman Trophy winners (Ty Detmer, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart) and six NFL first-round draft picks (Palmer, Leinart, Philip Rivers, Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Marc Wilson). Young is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Chow also has an NFL Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl quarterback to his credit. While the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans (2005-07), Chow helped Vince Young transition from college to professional football. In his first NFL season in 2006, Young became only the second quarterback to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and he was the first rookie quarterback to play in the Pro Bowl. Tennessee's run game also fared well under Chow and the Titans finished fifth in the league in 2006 in rushing (2,214 yards) while setting a franchise record for yards per carry (4.7). In his last season as Tennessee's offensive coordinator, the 2007 Titans won 10 games and earned a spot in the NFL playoffs.

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