O.C. Prospect: Norm Chow

Norm Chow enters his second season as the Titans offensive coordinator.

In his first NFL season last year, Chow adapted to the pro game with ease despite an offense that relied on a youthful cast of players and encountered numerous injuries. Tennessee ranked ninth in the NFL in passing and overall the offense ranked 17th.

The group of rookie receivers (WR Brandon Jones, WR Roydell Williams, WR Courtney Roby and TE Bo Scaife) became the first quartet of rookie receivers since the 1968 Buffalo Bills to each record at least 20 receptions in a season. Scaife would also establish a new rookie tight end franchise mark for receptions with 37.

Quarterback Steve McNair was on pace to have the highest yardage total of his career, before missing the final game and half with injury. He still averaged 225.8 yards passing per game, the second highest average of his career and had the fourth lowest sack to attempt ratio of his career.

In 32 years of coaching at the collegiate level, Chow tasted every form of success, including three national titles (BYU, 1984; USC 2003, 2004), tutoring three Heisman Trophy winners, 27 bowl games, and three times being named assistant coach of the year. He left an indelible mark on the college game as he worked with eight of the NCAA’s top 30 career passing efficiency leaders.

Chow has been associated with some of the best quarterbacks and offensive minds in the college and pro ranks. Among the quarterbacks associated with his teams are Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Marc Wilson, Gifford Nielsen, Ty Detmer, Robbie Bosco, Philip Rivers, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. Many of the NFL’s most noted NFL minds have coached alongside Chow, including Mike Holmgren, Andy Reid, Brian Billick, Ted Tollner, Mike Sheppard and Doug Scovil.

Chow joined the Titans on February 9, 2005, after spending four seasons as offensive coordinator at the University of Southern California. At the helm of USC’s offense, Chow directed an attack that ranked in the nation’s top 20 in total offense in each of his final three seasons, tutored two Heisman trophy winning quarterbacks (Palmer & Leinart) and won two national titles.

In his final season at USC, the Trojans ranked seventh nationally in scoring offense, ninth in passing efficiency and 15th in total offense. Quarterback Matt Leinart was the Heisman Trophy winner, Walter Camp Player of the Year, repeated as a first team All-American and was the Pac-10 Co-Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. In 2003, Leinart set Pac-10 season records for touchdown passes (38) and consecutive passes without an interception (212). He also had the highest passing efficiency rating (164.5) of any USC quarterback in history. USC was fifth nationally in passing efficiency and scoring offense, and the Trojans set Pac-10 season records with 534 points and by scoring 40-plus points in seven consecutive games.

In 2002, quarterback Carson Palmer won the Heisman Trophy and Unitas Award en route to becoming the NFL’s number one overall selection and the Pac-10's career leader in passing yards and total offense, while USC led the Pac-10 in total offense and scoring offense.

Chow spent the 2000 season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at North Carolina State.The NCSU passing offense was ranked 15th nationally (292.6). His quarterback, Philip Rivers, was a Freshman All-American who completed 53.7% (237 of 441) of his passes for 3,054 yards with 25 touchdowns and was 12th nationally in total offense (269.9).

Prior to joining the Wolfpack, Chow spent 27 years (1973-99) at BYU. At various times, he was the Cougars' assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, co-offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, receivers coach, recruiting coordinator and graduate assistant (1973 and 1974). While at BYU, the Cougars posted a 244-91-3 record during his time in Provo, appeared in 22 bowls and saw 21 offensive players earn All-America honors. In 12 of his 18 years as offensive coordinator at BYU, Chow led the offense to a place in the NCAA’s top 10 in total offense. Chow was with coach LaVell Edwards at for all but two (1972 & 2000) of his 29 years at BYU.

Chow began his coaching career as the head coach at Waialua (Hi.) High, where he led for three seasons (1970-72) before leaving for BYU.

He was a two-year starter and three-year letterman at guard for Utah (1965-67). In 1967, he earned All-Western Athletic Conference first team and All-American honorable mention honors. He was selected to Utah's All-Century Team.

In his years of coaching, Chow has garnered numerous accolades, including: the Broyles Award (2002) as the nation’s top assistant coach, National Assistant Coach of the year (1999) by the American Football Foundation and Athlon (1993), and the NCAA Division 1-A Offensive Coordinator of the Year (1996 & 2002) by American Football Monthly.