‘Now is our time’: NSU holds conference to formally introduce Michael Vick as head football coach

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Norfolk State University held a press conference Monday morning, formally introducing former NFL quarterback and Newport News native Michael Vick as the new head football coach. NSU President Javaune Adams-Gaston spoke about the decision to hire Vick and how she hopes this will propel the university further. "Right now, this transformation means that now is our time," Adams-Gaston said. "I also just want to say a little about what it takes to make an engine run like Norfolk State University. We would not be who we are without our legislators, our friends who allow us to say to them, 'you know this historical issue of underfunding universities,' and then I don't have to say the rest, because they say, 'has to stop.' And it stops with us." During the conference, cheers of "Behold Green and Gold" could be heard as Michael Vick made his way up to the stage. Vick's family also briefly went up on stage, including his wife, Kijafa Vick, an alumni of Hampton University. "We gonna take it out on [Hampton University] at some point," Vick joked. Vick stated it was hard for him to make the decision to walk away from Fox Sports, but said it was important for him to serve young men in the community he grew up in. "It wasn't the easiest decision to make, you know, I got family that I sincerely care about, that I love, you know, this requires a lot of change," Vick said. "But, at the same time, it allows me to serve young men in my community." During the conference, Vick also described the process of being hired, saying it took around three weeks in total. Vick was also asked about the value of being a coach at a HBCU. "I understand the value of a HBCU," Vick said. "The fact that it is in my hometown makes it even better. And so, it's a great admiration for HBCU's, the NFL has numerous partnerships with HBCU's, so I think it shows that people care, you know, you've got these big time Division 1 programs where they've got all these amazing things, bells and whistles, money, and they tend to forget about the HBCU's and the schools that have the same type of prominence, and so, to start here, it wasn't even by design." The full conference can be seen below: Vick got emotional Sunday on NFL on FOX as he spoke about accepting the gig, saying, "when you've got a chance to go lead young men in your community, where I grew up watching this team... I've got what it takes." Michael Vick officially hired by Norfolk State as next head football coach, university releases statement After Vick was officially hired at NSU, he released a statement saying in part, "I am blessed and humbled by this opportunity to lead, mentor, and transform the football program at Norfolk State University." Vick doesn't have any coaching experience, however, he is an accomplished former NFL Quarterback. In 1999, Vick led Virginia Tech to the national title game. Then, the Atlanta Falcons made him the first Black quarterback to be chosen, with the number one overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft. However, in 2007 at the prime of his career, Vick was convicted for dog fighting. Last dog to survive Michael Vick dogfighting ring dies; here’s how he spent life after his rescue He retired 10 years later, making advocacy against animal cruelty a part of his mission.