Ben Norton is in his second season with the Cowboys since making his return last year, fourth overall, and will once again coach the offensive line as well as coordinate the running game. He also serves as the team’s recruiting coordinator.
Norton will coordinate the running game while coaching the offensive line. He’ll also serve as the program’s co-recruiting coordinator.
His 2017 offensive line unit consisted of all-conference lineman Andy Dodd, who was a graduate transfer from LSU, and a host of young and inexperienced linemen. Despite that youth, the Cowboys averaged 173.3 yards rushing per game and ranked fourth in total offense in the league with a 408.3 average.
Before returning to McNeese, Norton developed eight All-America offensive linemen and 30 all-conference players, while winning six championships with seven teams that finished in the FCS Top 25 and reached postseason play.
 He spent four years at Northwestern State prior to returning to Cowboy Country, the last two years there as the offensive coordinator, and led a unit that set six single-season team records, six individual single-game records, five individual career records and eight individual single-season team records.
 In 2014, his offensive unit established new school records for total offensive (4,948), first downs (274), first downs via pass (140), completions (262), completion percentage (67.2), and passing yards (2,864).
 In 2016, his offense led the Southland Conference in rushing at 190.5 yards per game while running back De’Mard Llorens topped the league individually with 85.3 yards per contest, on his way to first team all-SLC honors.
 The Vidor, Texas native and 1993 graduate of Stephen F. Austin, Norton spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons at McNeese where he coached the defensive line in ’05 before moving to the offensive line in 2006.
 In 2006, McNeese led the Southland Conference in scoring offense (25.2) and ranked second in rushing (169.4) in helping lead the Cowboys to Southland Conference championship.
 Norton, who spent 1994-97 at Vanderbilt and LSU in the Southeastern Conference as a graduate assistant coach, got his first fulltime post at Eastern Illinois under venerable coach Bob Spoo in 1997-98, helping the Panthers crack the FCS Top 25 and assisting in the signing of future Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, a three-time Pro Bowl pick.Â
Norton worked under legendary Ron Randleman from 1999-2004 at Sam Houston, helping the Bearkats reach the 2001 playoff quarterfinals and the 2004 semifinals as assistant head coach and offensive line coach.
He was co-offensive coordinator and o-line coach in 2005-06 at McNeese as the Cowboys won the 2006 Southland title and reached the playoffs. Regaining the assistant head coach title to go with co-offensive coordinator and line coach from 2007-10 at Texas State, he helped the Bobcats to the 2008 FCS playoffs with a Southland crown, FCS Top 25 rankings in 2008 and 2009, and top 20 finishes in total offense from 2007-09, when Texas State averaged 420-yards plus each season. In his four seasons there, the Bobcats averaged 30 points, 408 yards, 165 yards rushing (4.5 per rush) and allowed only 1.5 sacks per game.
While at Texas State, Norton was responsible for signing linebacker Joplo Bartu, now a starter with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In his career, he’s coached 19 all-conference selections and six all-Americans.Â
In his two UFL seasons, he had four linemen sign NFL contracts, including Tony Ugoh, who won a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants.
Norton joined the United Football League’s Las Vegas Locos for the 2011 season and helped them to the championship game. He was an American Guest Coach with the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp in 2012, working with the offensive line, running backs and special teams, before coaching with the UFL’s Sacramento Mountain Lions in 2012.
Norton was a four-year letterwinner at SFA, where he earned Academic All-Southland Conference honors as an offensive lineman as a senior in 1992. He was a standout lineman and part-time placekicker at Vidor High School.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology/physical science in 1993. He was a Dean’s List and President’s List student at SFA. He received his Master of Education degree in health promotion and education from Vanderbilt University in 1997.
He recruits the East Texas and Dallas area.
ABOUT COACH NORTONÂ
DATE OF BIRTH: July 3, 1970Â
HOMETOWN: Dallas, Texas
HIGH SCHOOL: Vidor HS
COLLEGE: Stephen F. Austin, 1993; Vanderbilt, 1997 (Masters in Education)
FAMILY: Wife - Kelli; married May 13, 2017
PLAYING EXPERIENCEÂ
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN:
• 4-year letterman and earned Academic All-SLC honors as an offensive lineman as a senior in 1992
• Played on ‘89 SFA team that played in the NCAA FCS (then 1-AA) national championship game.
COACHING EXPERIENCEÂ
2017-: McNeese (OL, Run Game Coord., Recruit. Coord.)
2013-16: Northwestern StateÂ
        (Asst. HC/OL, 2013)
        (Asst. HC/OC/OL, 2014-16)
2012: Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL)
2012: Sacramento Mountain Lions (UFL)
2011: Las Vegas Locos (UFL)
2007-10: Texas State (Asst HC, Co-OC, OL)
2005-06: McNeese
        (RB, 2005)
        (Co-OC/OL, 2006)
1999-04: Sam Houston State (Asst. HC/OL)
1997-98: Easter Illinois (OL)
1996-97: LSU (GA)
1994-96: Vanderbilt (GA)
ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS COACHED
McNEESE - SLC
2017: Andy Dodd (2nd team)
2006: Brent Pousson (1st team),Eman Naghavi (2nd team)
TEXAS STATE - SLC
2010: D.J. Hall (1st team)
2009: D.J. Hall (1st team)
2008: Jeff Bowen (1st team), D.J. Hall (2nd team)
2007: Crawford May (2nd team)
SAM HOUSTON STATE - SLC
2004: Stephen Izevbizua (1st team), Chris Louvier (1st team)
2003: Stephen Izevbizua (1st team), Chris Louvier (2nd team)
2002: Chase Denton (2nd team), Billy Williams (2nd team)
2001: Chase Denton (1st team), Billy Williams (2nd team)
EASTERN ILLINOIS - OHIO VALLEY
1998: Ryan Shuff (1st team), Jerrell Smith (2nd team)
1997: Chris Dunkle (1st team), Pete Wilkes (1st team)
ALL-AMERICAN PLAYERS COACHED
TEXAS STATE
2010: D.J. Hall (AP 3rd; Phil Steele 4th)
2008: Jeff Bowen (STATS Hon.Mention)
SAM HOUSTON STATE
2004: Chris Louvier (STATS 2nd; AP 3rd; Don Hansen 2nd)
Stephen Izevbizua (STATS 2nd; Doke.com HM)
EASTERN ILLINOIS
1998: Ryan Shuff, OL (AP 3rd team)
1997: Chris Dunkle, OLÂ (AP 2nd team; STATS 3rd team)
