Brian Norwood joined San José State in January of 2026 with over 35 years of experience as the Defensive Pass Game Coordinator & Cornerbacks Coach.
Norwood spent the 2025 season at TCU as the Assistant Coach-Safeties for the Horned Frogs.
He joined TCU after serving five seasons as assistant head coach/passing game coordinator/safeties coach at UCLA.
Under Norwood’s guidance at UCLA, eight defensive backs earned All-Pac-12 honors, and in 2023, the Bruins led the Pac-12 and ranked 10th nationally in total defense, allowing just 301.5 yards per game.
Norwood brings extensive experience, having served in co-defensive coordinator roles at Navy (2019), Kansas State (2018), and Tulsa (2015–17). During his season at Navy, the Midshipmen set a program record with 11 wins. At Kansas State, Norwood helped engineer one of the nation’s most dramatic defensive turnarounds, improving the Wildcats’ pass defense from last in the Big 12 to fourth in just one season.
His résumé also includes a successful seven-year stint at Baylor (2008–14) as associate head coach and safeties coach, along with seven seasons at Penn State (2001–07) coaching safeties. Norwood’s career path also features stops at Texas Tech (2000), Navy (1995–99), Richmond (1992–94), and Arizona (1990–91).
Norwood was a four-year letterwinner at both cornerback and safety at Hawai‘i (1984-87) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication in 1988. He and his wife, Tiffiney, have five children: Gabriel, Jordan, Levi, Brianna, and Zaccariah. Gabriel was a key member of George Mason’s 2006 men’s basketball Final Four team. Jordan played eight seasons in the NFL, including the 2015 campaign with the Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos, while Levi was a four-year letterwinner at Baylor (2011-14).