Chris Norwell is entering his 17^th season with Thomas More and his 4th as the head football coach for the 2025-2026 season.

The 2024 season saw the Saints go 5-6 overall and 4-5 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference play. Norwell oversaw four All-Conference selections and an Elite-26 winner. Thomas More had 18 football players named to the G-MAC Academic All-Conference list.

The Saints went 5-6 in the second season under Norwell as Thomas More played in their first season at the NCAA Division II level. Thomas More went 4-5 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference play. Norwell oversaw Five CSC Academic All-District Selections, Five All Great Midwest Athletic Conference Selections and the Co-Freshman of the Year in the G-MAC in Evan Brown. During the season, punter Elgin Phillips was a two-time G-MAC Special Teams Athlete of the Week selection. Norwell and the Saints won their first NCAA Division II game on September 8th against UVA Wise, and their first G-MAC game on September 16th against Ohio Dominican.

In his inaugural season as head coach, Norwell led the Saints to an overall record of 5-6 and a Mid South Conference record of 4-4. He was integral in scheduling a game against FCS Division 1, Duquesne. This was only the second game in Thomas More’s history against a Division 1 opponent. During this season, two Saints earned All-Conference honors. The 2022 Saints Defense set two new school records, lowest total yards in a single game and lowest average rushing yards per attempt by an opponent. Blaine Espinosa tied the school record with 5 TD’s in a single game during this same season. Behind the scenes, Norwell was at the helm as Thomas More transitioned to a Division 2 program.
Before becoming head coach, Norwell had great success as Thomas More’s defensive coordinator. During the 2014 season, his first in the DC role, Norwell helped lead the Saints to a national ranking of 28th in Division III in total defense. During his second season as coordinator, his defense ranked 41st in total defense and shutout #19-ranked St. John Fisher College in the season-opener. Norwell has been a major contributor in 7 conference championships and 5 NCAA playoff appearances on the Thomas More sidelines with some of his other notable defensive achievements listed below.

• 6th nationally in total defense (2013)
• 42^nd nationally in total defense (2015)
• 1^st nationally in passes intercepted (2015)
• 23^rd nationally in total sacks (2015)
• 1^st in PAC for rushing defense and passes intercepted (2016)
• 2^nd in PAC for rushing defense (2017)
• top 20% in NAIA for points per game and rushing defense.

During Norwell’s tenure, he has not only been a part of team successes but has had the honor of coaching players to individual achievements. Norwell coached the President’s Athletic Conference Player of the year in 2009 (Tyler Owens) and 2015 (Erick Butler). He has also coached 2 All Americans and 55 All Conference selections.
Norwell is a graduate of the University of Illinois, where he was a member of the Fighting Illini’s football team. In 2007, he collected 32 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and 0.5 sacks. He also led the Illini with 7.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks in 2005. Norwell holds the school record for career starts by a defensive lineman with 46. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2007. Norwell was an un-drafted Free Agent in 2008 for New England and Minnesota. 
Norwell, a Cincinnati, Ohio native, lives with his wife Quincey and sons, Everett, August, and Wallace and daughter, Shiloh.