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| Home / College Guide / Michael Vick talks Year 2 expectations at Norfolk State, accountability, clear v |
| Posted on Wednesday, July 22 @ 00:03:18 PDT |
When Michael Vick accepted the Norfolk State head coaching job, expectations immediately followed. After watching Deion Sanders transform Jackson State into an HBCU powerhouse from 2020 through 2022, many believed another NFL legend could engineer a similarly rapid turnaround.
With Vicks stature in football and Virginias rich recruiting landscape, there was optimism that Norfolk State could quickly become a MEAC contender. Instead, Year 1 proved to be a humbling education. The Spartans finished 1-11 in Vicks debut season, earning their lone victory in a 34-31 overtime win over Virginia State before going winless against Division I competition.
Not running from the struggles of Year 1
Rather than avoiding the disappointment, Vick has embraced it. Speaking during The Pivot at MEAC Football Media Day, he reflected on what the difficult season taught both him and his program.
“We definitely had a rough season last year. We dont shy away from that. We embrace that. There were a lot of lessons learned in the losses.”
Looking back, Vick believes many of Norfolk States setbacks were self-inflicted.
“Looking back at the season, it was like, ‘Yall beat yourselves in a lot of situations.
Its easy to lose a football game. Its hard to win it because everything has to go right. Looking back at the mistakes and the things we can do better gave us a lot of things to teach on.”
For Vick, the biggest evaluation wasnt of his players. It was of himself.
“I had already played every scenario in my head. There were so many things I felt like I couldve done better. I took so many things away from this season. Ive got to have the same poise I had as a quarterback. I have to have the same leadership mentality in all facets as I had as a quarterback.”
He specifically pointed to Morgan State head coach Damon Wilson and South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry as coaches who helped him navigate his transition into college coaching. Vick also conducted his interview with The Pivot alongside Berry and Wilson.
“Listening to Damon and listening to Coach Berry, spending time over the last couple of days, I understand why theyve been so successful. I understand why theyre in the position theyre in. They get it. They understand it. Theyre not afraid to tell me, ‘You can do this a little better. You might could do that a little better.”
Now, entering his second season, Vick believes he has a much stronger foundation.
Speaking with Dr. Kenyatta Cavil on Inside the HBCU Sports Lab, he said he no longer feels like a first-year coach.
“As a second-year head coach, having some experience—Im not a rookie coach anymore. I dont have to feel that way anymore. I dont have to think that way anymore.”
That confidence stems from entering the season with a much clearer roadmap.
“A lot was unknown. I didnt know what to expect. Now I came into 2026 with a vision. We laid the groundwork down from the beginning, and now I feel like my team is working toward that goal of getting to Game 1, getting to Week 1 and seeing where we stack up.”
Vick has confidence in his roster
Vick also feels encouraged by the makeup of his roster. He brought quarterback Reggie Johnson and safety Stephon Hall to MEAC Media Day because he believes they embody the standards he wants the program to represent.
“Reggie Johnson and Stephon Hall are two guys who I trust with our team. I trust them as leaders. I trust them as men. I trust them as men of character. I trust them as football players, most importantly.”
He also highlighted Norfolk States returning offensive line as one of the teams biggest strengths.
“We have a tremendous offensive line thats returning.
Tyler Leinberger and those guys have been working extremely hard, getting stronger. Theyre jelling.”
Quarterback play remains another focal point entering Year 2. Last season, Norfolk States quarterback competition between Israel Carter and Otto Kuhns became one of the central storylines featured in BETs Coach Vick Experience documentary series. Carter opened the season as the starter before Kuhns eventually took over after injuries and inconsistency reshaped the position.
This offseason, Vick said his evaluation has changed. Rather than simply giving every quarterback an opportunity, hes focused on identifying the mentally toughest player.
“Everybody is different from a talent perspective, but from a mentality perspective, we can all be on one accord. Its a championship mentality, a championship attitude and a resilient attitude that youve got to have as a quarterback. Im looking for the ones who are mentally tough. Last year, I wanted to give everybody an opportunity. This year, its all about pouring into those guys, making sure I get the most out of them every single day and making sure theyre mentally tough enough to go four quarters.”
The impact of BETs The Coach Vick Experience on Norfolk State
One storyline that followed Norfolk State throughout 2025 was the presence of BET cameras documenting Vicks first season.
Despite outside speculation, Vick doesnt believe the documentary affected the teams performance.
“We didnt recognize the cameras. There are cameras everywhere at our practices. Whether it was BET filming or some random person who walked up and started filming, I didnt know who was who sometimes.”
The series did, however, give Vick an opportunity to evaluate himself.
“Sometimes I forgot the mic was on. If something was to happen, I would be more conscious of that. I would be conscious of the things that I say. I would be conscious of my poise and my approach, because it doesnt call for that.”
He said the experience reinforced lessons he learned from some of the NFLs most respected coaches.
“Some of the greatest coaches that Ive had or been around—Tony Dungy, Andy Reid, Mike Tomlin—they dont have to get rah-rah. They can coach you in a calm way. I learned a lot from that.”
While Vick joked that the documentary may have looked different had he known how the season would unfold, he said its purpose was always bigger than wins and losses.
“If I knew we were going to go 1-11, I probably wouldve put it on hold. But that wasnt the gist of it.”
Instead, he wanted Norfolk State to receive national exposure.
“Part of the exposure was…for them…for Norfolk State, for us to be on the map…I cared about our team. I wanted them to get exposure. It was fun, and we just have to take it one day at a time.”
Ultimately, Vick says every game will be judged by one standard.
“If we get through 60 minutes of a football game and come in on Sunday morning and look at it and say, ‘We did everything we could to win that game, whether we win or lose, thats all you can ask for.”
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