Salem Hills High School coach Jeff Higginson vividly recalls the moment when a phone call turned the face of its recipient, then-Arizona State offensive coordinator Mike Norvell, ghostly white. The setting was Kneaders, a bakery in Spanish Fork, where they were joined by Chip Long, the Sun Devils’ tight ends coach. The call, from Memphis, interrupted their discussion about a promising young quarterback named Jaren Hall. Higginson initially feared the worst, thinking someone had passed away, only to discover that Norvell was being offered the head coaching job at Memphis.
The connection between Hall and Norvell traces back to Hall's high school recruiting days when Higginson, who had coached Hall in baseball for years, brought him to a camp in Tempe. Higginson, also a part-time football coach, had a favorable impression of Arizona State head coach Todd Graham and decided to introduce Hall to the coaching staff. Norvell, intrigued by Hall's athleticism and potential, stayed in touch with Higginson, eventually considering him for a scholarship offer.
Despite the potential offer from Arizona State, Norvell's departure to Memphis left Hall without a concrete offer from the Sun Devils. However, Hall went on to receive an offer from Brigham Young University (BYU), where he excelled as a quarterback, winning 18 games and accumulating nearly 7,000 yards in two seasons. Hall's success at BYU culminated in him being drafted in the fifth round and becoming a backup quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.
Norvell, on the other hand, went on to achieve success as the head coach at Memphis, winning 38 games and having two 10-win seasons. His coaching prowess eventually led him to the head coaching position at Florida State, solidifying his status as one of the sport's top coaches and even garnering consideration for the head coaching position at Alabama.
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