Joe Wade retained as running backs coach; Cameron Norcross and Ron Antoine named assistant coaches
Last updated on April 20, 2012
Cameron Norcross was hired on Jan. 20, 2012 as an assistant coach for Fresno State in charge of directing the Bulldog offensive line.
Norcross' entire 11-year coaching career before joining the Fresno State staff was spent at his alma mater, Nevada, where he helped lead the Wolf Pack to seven-straight bowl appearances from 2005-11.
A three-year letterman on the Wolf Pack offensive line (1997-99), Norcross was an All-Big West selection in 1998.
CAMERON NORCROSS PROFILE
Hometown
Ely, Nev.
Education
Nevada (2000)-bachelor's in management
Playing History
OL at Nevada (1997-99) All-Big West in 1998
Family
Wife: Jennifer Daughters: Kylie & Madison Son: Jacob
COACHING HISTORY
•2012-Present: Fresno State (Offensive Line)
•2001-11: Nevada
-2010-11: Run-Game Coord./Offensive Line
-2003-09: Tight Ends/Co-Offensive Line
-2001-02: Graduate Assistant
He started in coaching career as a graduate assistant for Nevada under coach Chris Tormey in 2001 and 2002. In the 2003 season, he was hired on full time as the tight ends and co-offensive line coach.
Wolf Pack Hall of Fame coach Chris Ault returned to the program as head coach in 2004, and he kept Norcross on his staff in the same role all the way up until 2010 when he was promoted to the run-game coordinator and offensive line coach.
Norcross played an important role in the development of Ault's Pistol Offensce since its inception prior to the 2005 season.
Nevada led the nation in rushing in 2009, a year in which the Wolf Pack became the first team in NCAA history to have three 1,000-yard rushers in the same season. Under the direction of Norcross in 2010, the Wolf Pack ranked third nationally in rushing and fourth in total offense. Running back Vai Taua was seventh in the nation in rushing that year at 124 yards per game and quarterback Colin Kaepernick was 41st, as he became the first quarterback in NCAA history to rush for over 1,000 yards three-straight years.
Despite the graduation of Taua and Kaepernick, Nevada's run-game did not see a drop off in production in 2011. Norcross' unit ranked eighth nationally in rushing offense and sixth in total offense at 506.7 yards per game.
In 2011, offensive lineman Chris Baker was named to the All-WAC first-team and Jeff Nady received a second-team nod. In his nine seasons coaching offensive lineman at Nevada, Norcross coached eight players to first-team all-conference honors and another eight to second-team accolades.
Tight end Anthony Pudewell was a second-team All-WAC selection in both 2005 and 2006 under Norcross. In 2007, tight end Adam Bishop led the WAC tight ends in scoring with seven touchdowns and was a second-team All-WAC selection.
Prior to joining Tim DeRuyter's staff at Fresno State in 2012, the two had previously worked together at Nevada in 2005 and 2006 when DeRuyter was the co-defensive coordinator for the Wolf Pack. Over those two seasons, DeRuyter and Norcross helped lead Nevada to a 17-8 record, a share of the 2005 WAC Championship and two bowl appearances.
A native of Ely, Nev., Norcross holds a bachelor's degree from Nevada in management. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters, Kylie and Madison, and one son, Jacob.
