Norvell, who was offensive coordinator at UCLA this past season, told the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal-Star on Wednesday that he has accepted the OU position.
"I had some pretty good opportunities,” Norvell said to the Journal-Star. "It was just too appealing to be at Oklahoma with all of the talent it has returning. It's a hell of a group. There were some other coordinator positions I looked at, but there wasn't the right combination of talent and (institutional) support."
Even with Malcolm Kelly leaving early for the NFL Draft, OU still has leading receiver Juaquin Iglesias coming back next season.
The Sooners have also received verbal commitments from two of the top wide receiver recruits in the country in Josh Jarboe and Jameel Owens.
OU is also trying to land Julio Jones, the nation's top wide receiver prospect.
The Sooners could sell Jones on the fact that Norvell tutored perennial NFL all-pro wide receiver Marvin Harrison during Harrison's early years with the Indianapolis Colts.
Norvell, 44, will replace Kevin Sumlin, who left to become the head coach at Houston after the Fiesta Bowl.
Norvell had been a finalist to succeed Joe Tiller at Purdue, but late last week the Boilermakers tabbed Eastern Kentucky coach Danny Hope.
Norvell also reportedly turned down the chance to join Texas A&M's coaching staff.
Sooner coach Bob Stoops and Norvell have a connection that dates back to when they played together at Iowa in the early 1980s.
After coaching stints at Wisconsin, Iowa State and the Colts, Stoops hired Norvell in 2002 to be OU's wide receivers coach.
But Norvell only stayed in Norman a month, opting to leave to coach tight ends for the Oakland Raiders under
