Eastern Michigan Athletics
Women's Basketball
Norris, Rob
Rob Norris
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- rnorris@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.487.0481
Rob Norris is in his second year on the Eagles’ sidelines in 2013-14. Previously, Norris spent six years at Canisius College, the final three as the Golden Griffins’ associate head coach.
The 36-year-old Norris brings a wealth of experience to Ypsilanti, having worked 11 years at four different men’s basketball programs. A 1999 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, he is responsible for working the Eagles’ guards and serves as the team’s defensive coordinator.
In his first season at EMU, the Eagles' defense limited teams to just 62.8 points per game, the sixth best total in the Mid-American Conference. Norris’ defense was on full display in the 2012-13 season opener when EMU held Northeastern without a field goal for the final 11:46 of the contest.
While at Canisius, he was mainly responsible for the team’s scheduling and also worked closely with the head coach in game-planning, opponent scouting and daily practice planning. Norris also had a heavy hand in the recruiting efforts of the Griffs. One of his first recruits was former guard Frank Turner, who was named the MAAC’s Co-Rookie of the Year after his freshman season in 2006-07 and closed out his career in Blue and Gold ranked among the school’s top-10 in 12 different statistical categories. He also played a key role in the recruitment of the Class of 2011, a group of five players that all graduated from the College in three years. Three of those players, Julius Coles, Elton Frazier and Greg Logins, all went on to score more than 1,000 career points during their time as a Griff.
Prior to his arrival at Canisius, Norris spent two years at Towson University where he worked under Head Coach Pat Kennedy. Norris spent a total of five seasons working with Kennedy, starting out as the film coordinator at DePaul when Kennedy was the head coach there before traveling to Montana, where he was the director of basketball operations for Kennedy’s staff in Missoula, Mont.
While at Towson, Norris played a major role in the recruitment of Tim Crossin, who was named to the CAA’s All-Rookie Team and was honored as the CBSSportsline.com CAA Rookie of the Year. He also had the chance to work directly with former Towson guard Gary Neal, who now plays professionally for the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs
A native of Rochester, N.Y., Norris attended Fairleigh Dickinson University for two years before transferring to IUP for his junior and senior years. A four-year starter at guard, Norris earned a spot on the Northeast Conference’s 1995-96 All-Newcomers Team after averaging 11.0 points per game for FDU as a freshman.
In his senior year, he was named captain at IUP and helped direct the Indians to a 22-5 record, the third-best in school history. He closed out his collegiate career with over 1,000 points, 300 assists and 300 rebounds.
Norris is a graduate of Rochester’s McQuaid Jesuit High School where he was a four-year varsity player and a McDonald’s All-American nominee. A two-time all-state and All-City Catholic League selection and a first-team All-Greater Rochester choice in his senior year, he led McQuaid to a pair of Section V championships.
THE ROB NORRIS FILE
Full Name: Robert A. Norris, Jr.
High School: McQuaid Jesuit High School (Rochester, N.Y.)
College: Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Graduated in 1999 - bachelor’s in history/pre-law)
Canisius College (Graduated in 2009 - master’s in sports administration
Coaching Experience
YEAR SCHOOL JOB TITLE
2012-13 Eastern Michigan Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
2011-12 Canisius College Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach
2010-11 Canisius College Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach
2009-10 Canisius College Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach
2008-09 Canisius College Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
2007-08 Canisius College Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
2006-07 Canisius College Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
2005-06 Towson University Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach
2004-05 Towson University Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
2003-04 University of Montana Director of Men’s Basketball Operations
2002-03 University of Montana Director of Men’s Basketball Operations
2001-02 DePaul University Film Coordinator
The 36-year-old Norris brings a wealth of experience to Ypsilanti, having worked 11 years at four different men’s basketball programs. A 1999 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, he is responsible for working the Eagles’ guards and serves as the team’s defensive coordinator.
In his first season at EMU, the Eagles' defense limited teams to just 62.8 points per game, the sixth best total in the Mid-American Conference. Norris’ defense was on full display in the 2012-13 season opener when EMU held Northeastern without a field goal for the final 11:46 of the contest.
While at Canisius, he was mainly responsible for the team’s scheduling and also worked closely with the head coach in game-planning, opponent scouting and daily practice planning. Norris also had a heavy hand in the recruiting efforts of the Griffs. One of his first recruits was former guard Frank Turner, who was named the MAAC’s Co-Rookie of the Year after his freshman season in 2006-07 and closed out his career in Blue and Gold ranked among the school’s top-10 in 12 different statistical categories. He also played a key role in the recruitment of the Class of 2011, a group of five players that all graduated from the College in three years. Three of those players, Julius Coles, Elton Frazier and Greg Logins, all went on to score more than 1,000 career points during their time as a Griff.
Prior to his arrival at Canisius, Norris spent two years at Towson University where he worked under Head Coach Pat Kennedy. Norris spent a total of five seasons working with Kennedy, starting out as the film coordinator at DePaul when Kennedy was the head coach there before traveling to Montana, where he was the director of basketball operations for Kennedy’s staff in Missoula, Mont.
While at Towson, Norris played a major role in the recruitment of Tim Crossin, who was named to the CAA’s All-Rookie Team and was honored as the CBSSportsline.com CAA Rookie of the Year. He also had the chance to work directly with former Towson guard Gary Neal, who now plays professionally for the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs
A native of Rochester, N.Y., Norris attended Fairleigh Dickinson University for two years before transferring to IUP for his junior and senior years. A four-year starter at guard, Norris earned a spot on the Northeast Conference’s 1995-96 All-Newcomers Team after averaging 11.0 points per game for FDU as a freshman.
In his senior year, he was named captain at IUP and helped direct the Indians to a 22-5 record, the third-best in school history. He closed out his collegiate career with over 1,000 points, 300 assists and 300 rebounds.
Norris is a graduate of Rochester’s McQuaid Jesuit High School where he was a four-year varsity player and a McDonald’s All-American nominee. A two-time all-state and All-City Catholic League selection and a first-team All-Greater Rochester choice in his senior year, he led McQuaid to a pair of Section V championships.
THE ROB NORRIS FILE
Full Name: Robert A. Norris, Jr.
High School: McQuaid Jesuit High School (Rochester, N.Y.)
College: Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Graduated in 1999 - bachelor’s in history/pre-law)
Canisius College (Graduated in 2009 - master’s in sports administration
Coaching Experience
YEAR SCHOOL JOB TITLE
2012-13 Eastern Michigan Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
2011-12 Canisius College Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach
2010-11 Canisius College Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach
2009-10 Canisius College Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach
2008-09 Canisius College Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
2007-08 Canisius College Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
2006-07 Canisius College Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
2005-06 Towson University Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach
2004-05 Towson University Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
2003-04 University of Montana Director of Men’s Basketball Operations
2002-03 University of Montana Director of Men’s Basketball Operations
2001-02 DePaul University Film Coordinator
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