Norval McKenzie

Norval McKenzie, an Atlanta-area native who has coached running backs at the NCAA Division I level for 12 seasons, is in his second season as running backs coach/run-game coordinator at Georgia Tech.

In his first season with the Yellow Jackets, McKenzie’s running backs totaled 2,244 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns. Leading the way was sophomore Jamal Haynes, who transitioned from wide receiver to running back after McKenzie’s arrival on The Flats and, in his first season at the position, became Tech’s first 1,000-yard rusher in six seasons when he ran for 1,059 yards and seven scores en route to all-conference recognition as both a running back and an all-purpose performer.

McKenzie came to The Flats after two seasons as the running backs coach/run-game coordinator at Vanderbilt (2021-22), which followed two seasons as running backs coach at ACC rival Louisville (2019-20).

His resume also includes stops at Arkansas State (2016-18 – running backs/special teams coordinator) and Furman (2011-15 (running backs/special teams coordinator/recruiting coordinator). He began his professional career as an assistant coach at Hiram H.S. in suburban Atlanta from 2005-07, followed by three seasons at Vanderbilt as graduate assistant (2008-09) and assistant recruiting coordinator (2010).

McKenzie is originally from Powder Springs, Ga., and attended McEachern H.S. He played running back at Vanderbilt, where he amassed 1,724 yards from scrimmage and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He and his wife, Amber, have two sons – Storm and Bolt.

FULL BIOGRAPHY

Norval McKenzie, an Atlanta-area native who has coached running backs at the NCAA Division I level for 12 seasons, is in his first season as running backs coach/run-game coordinator at Georgia Tech.

In his first season with the Yellow Jackets, McKenzie’s running backs totaled 2,244 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns. Leading the way was sophomore Jamal Haynes, who transitioned from wide receiver to running back after McKenzie’s arrival on The Flats and, in his first season at the position, became Tech’s first 1,000-yard rusher in six seasons when he ran for 1,059 yards and seven scores, en route to all-conference recognition as both a running back and an all-purpose performer.

McKenzie came to The Flats after two seasons as the running backs coach/run-game coordinator at Vanderbilt. Under his tutelage in 2022, Vanderbilt’s Ray Davis, who went on to be selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, ranked fourth in the Southeastern Conference and in the top 35 nationally with 1,042 rushing yards. Davis’ 1,000-yard rushing season was only 10th by a running back in Vanderbilt history.

Prior to his two seasons at Vanderbilt, McKenzie spent two seasons in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Louisville. At Louisville, he coached a pair of all-ACC performers in Javian Hawkins and Hassan Hall. The duo combined to rush for 3,071 yards and 23 touchdowns in two seasons under McKenzie’s tutelage, highlighted by Hawkins’ 1,525 yards (a Louisville single-season record) and nine touchdowns in 2019. Hawkins finished eighth nationally in rushing in ’19, en route to freshman all-America honors.

McKenzie spent 2016-18 as running backs coach at Arkansas State. During his three seasons at Arkansas State, he teamed up with then-ASU offensive coordinator and current Georgia Tech OC Buster Faulner to help lead the Red Wolves to the 2016 Sun Belt Conference championship, the 2018 Sun Belt West Division title, three bowl games and a pair of top-20 national finishes in total offense (10^th in 2017 and 17^th in 2018).

At Arkansas State, McKenzie coached running backs Marcel Murray, who was named the 2018 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, and Warren Wand, who ran for 2,386 yards and 17 touchdowns in three seasons under McKenzie’s tutelage and finished his career among the top five rushers in program history.

In addition to coaching running backs, McKenzie picked up special teams coordinator duties during his final season at Arkansas State. In McKenzie’s lone season as special teams coordinator, the Red Wolves set an NCAA record by holding opponents to minus-15 punt return yards for the season. ASU also finished sixth nationally in kick return defense. In recognition of his efforts both offensively and on special teams, McKenzie was nominated for the 2018 Broyles Award, which honors the nation’s top assistant coach.

McKenzie’s first five seasons as a full-time coach came at Furman, where he was running backs coach for five seasons (2011-15). Additionally, he served as the Paladins’ recruiting coordinator from 2011-14 and special teams coordinator in 2015.

At Furman, he helped lead the Paladins to the 2013 Southern Conference title and a pair of wins over top-five-ranked NCAA Division I FCS opponents in 2011. He coached two all-SoCon running backs and two SoCon all-freshman team honorees. His star pupil at Furman, Jerodis Williams, was an FCS all-American and two-time all-SoCon selection who rushed for 2,225 yards and 20 touchdowns over his junior and senior seasons and also led FCS in kickoff return yardage (35.9 avg.) in 2012.

McKenzie’s first experience as a collegiate coach came at at Vanderbilt, first as a graduate assistant in 2008 and 2009, followed by one season as assistant recruiting coordinator in 2010. In 2008, Vanderbilt had its first winning season since 1982 and earned its first bowl win since 1955 with a 16-14 triumph over Boston College in the Music City Bowl.

Prior to Vandy, McKenzie served as an assistant at Hiram H.S. in suburban Atlanta.

McKenzie amassed 1,724 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns as a running back at Vanderbilt from 2001-04. His collegiate career was highlighted by running for 629 yards and five scores as a junior. He graduated from Vanderbilt with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, political science and American history in 2005 and earned a master’s in education from Vandy in 2010.

McKenzie is originally from Powder Springs, Ga., and attended McEachern H.S. He and his wife, Amber, have two sons – Storm and Bolt.