Title/Alt Text Texas wide receivers coach Jay Norvell will leave his post in Austin, multiple sources tell Horns247. Rivals reported Thursday evening Norvell will take a coaching position at Arizona State.

The Longhorns have already started the search process to find Norvell's replacement, according to a source close to the situation.

Norvell ascended to the role of Texas’ play-caller after one game in 2015, following the demotion of assistant head coach for offense Shawn Watson and co-offensive coordinator Joe Wickline. But Strong opted not to retain Norvell as play-caller for the 2016 season. Instead, Strong hired current Texas offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert.

The 52-year-old Norvell has quietly sought employment in other places for much of the offseason, sources tell Horns247. Norvell had one year remaining on his two-year contract with Texas that paid him an annual salary of $355,000. With Norvell leaving his post voluntarily for another position, Texas does not owe him any of the remaining value of his contact. Under his deal, acquired by Horns247 through an open records request, Texas could chose to pursue liquidation damages of up to 25 percent of Norvell's base salary for the 2016 season at the discretion of Texas men’s athletic director Mike Perrin and Strong.

Strong hired Norvell on Jan. 16, 2015 as the team’s wide receivers coach. Norvell, who had served as an offensive coordinator in previous stops at Oklahoma, UCLA and Nebraska, was also brought in, in part, to help Watson transition Texas’ offense into a more spread-oriented attack.

But the shift didn’t have an immediate impact as Texas mustered three points in a season-opening loss to Notre Dame. Following the loss, Strong demoted Watson and Wickline and elevated Norvell to the role of Texas’ play-caller.

Under Norvell’s direction Texas finished as the nation’s 83rd-ranked scoring offense, averaging 26.4 points per game. Only two teams in the Big 12 – Iowa State and Kansas – were worse in the category. Texas did make noticeable improvements throughout the year, however. The play from redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard turned some heads as did the performances of sophomore running back D’Onta Foreman and freshman back Chris Warren.

Novell is the eighth assistant coach in Charlie Strong’s two-year tenure to leave the program. Strong fired tight ends coach Bruce Chambers and wide receivers coach Les Konneing last offseason, and shortly after that he lost Chris Rump to Florida. Following the 2015 season Strong opted to part ways with Watson, Wickline and defensive backs coach Chris Vaughn, while losing running backs coach Tommie Robinson to USC.

With the departure of Norvell, the Longhorns are now searching for a defensive backs, running backs and wide receivers coach.

Chris Hummer contributed to this report