Memphis Tigers remove interim tag, make Ryan Silverfield football program's head coach

Ryan Silverfield, left, watches a replay on the scoreboard with Memphis quarterback Brady White during the AAC title game against visiting Cincinnati last Saturday. Silverfield, an assistant to Mike Norvell the past four seasons and the program's interim leader after Norvell left for Florida State last Sunday, was named head coach of the Tigers on Friday. / AP photo by Mark Humphrey
Ryan Silverfield, left, watches a replay on the scoreboard with Memphis quarterback Brady White during the AAC title game against visiting Cincinnati last Saturday. Silverfield, an assistant to Mike Norvell the past four seasons and the program's interim leader after Norvell left for Florida State last Sunday, was named head coach of the Tigers on Friday. / AP photo by Mark Humphrey

MEMPHIS - The University of Memphis has hired Ryan Silverfield as its football coach, removing the interim tag given to him last Sunday when Mike Norvell left to take over at Florida State.

Memphis athletic director Laird Veatch announced the hiring Friday, saying Memphis met with candidates from all over the country. Veatch, who led the process and did not hire a search firm, said Silverfield won this job outright.

"He separated himself from our national field with his preparation, his own plan for moving us forward and his unwavering passion and commitment to the Memphis football program and our community," Veatch said. "I am confident that Coach Satterfield is the right man at the right time, and I'm excited to join forces with him in the pursuit of more championships."

Silverfield was Norvell's deputy head coach and co-offensive coordinator this year in the program's best season yet. The No. 15 Tigers (12-1) set the program record for single-season victories, won the American Athletic Conference championship last weekend and will play in a New Year's Six game when they take on No. 13 Penn State (10-2) in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 28.

"He identified the needs of our program, along with the characteristics and experience of the individual needed to help this program take the next big step in its remarkable trajectory," Memphis president M. David Rudd said in a released statement.

Silverfield is the 25th head coach in program history and will have to fill big shoes - before joining the Seminoles, Norvell went 38-15 in four seasons at Memphis. Silverfield was with Norvell from the start in 2016.

"Ryan is a tremendous coach, leader and inspiration to his players," Norvell said. "He was a critical component in taking the program to new heights. He's a relentless recruiter and relationship builder and will represent the Tiger family in a first-class fashion."

Silverfield helped coach running back Kevin Smith at Central Florida in 2007 when he led the nation with 2,567 rushing yards. Silverfield spent six seasons coaching in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings. Three of those seasons were spent working with the offensive line, including 2012, when Adrian Peterson ran for 2,097 yards.

Silverfield spent half of the 2015 season with the NFL's Detroit Lions as an assistant offensive line coach. He also was an offensive analyst at Arizona State, and he was an offensive consultant at Toledo in 2014.

He came to Memphis with Norvell and was the offensive line coach and running game coordinator in 2018 before being promoted to deputy head coach. Silverfield had only two starters back for 2019 on the line, but the unit helped block for an offense that generated 6,249 yards and the third-best scoring offense in program history with 527 points.

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