COACHING EXPERIENCE: After a 10 year NFL career with the Houston/Tennessee Oilers, Erik’s coaching career began at Chatfield and then moved on to Mullen High School.  Using techniques gathered from NFL Hall of Fame great and current Tennessee Titans Offensive Line coach Mike Munchak, he was able to develop his players (many considered “undersized” by current Offensive Line standards) into highly skilled blockers.  In his 4-year High School coaching career, he obtained one Colorado 5A State Championship as well as two 3^rd and one 4^th place finishes.  As a side note, his State Championship Offensive Line was pound-for-pound the smallest at the 5A level that year.  Many of the players he coached over the years were recognized with All-Conference and All-State honors and have had the privilege of reaping the benefits of Division I and Division II football scholarships.  In 2004, Erik chose to leave the High School coaching ranks to devote time to coaching his son’s teams in Highlands Ranch youth football, handling both Offensive and Defensive Line coaching responsibilities for each team.  From 2004 to 2007 those teams saw one Carnation Bowl appearance and two AYL Super Bowl championships.  Building on the skills learned from his father, Clay Norgard earned the starting Defensive Tackle position as a sophomore at Mountain Vista High School in 2009 and was named 1^st Team Southern League All-Conference, being one of only two sophomores that season to obtain that honor.

ATHLETICS: As a true freshman at Western Washington University in 1984, Erik earned the starting Right Guard position in the Vikings high-scoring Run-and-Shoot offense.  Transferring to the University of Colorado as a walk-on in spring of 1985, he earned a scholarship there the following year.   He obtained the starting Center spot in his junior season, and was part of a unit that was ranked 2^nd in the nation in rushing.  His senior year brought Team Captain, 1^st Team All-Big Eight and Honorable Mention All-American honors, as well as the ranking of 2^nd in the nation in rushing again.  As an undersized, undrafted free agent with the Houston Oilers, Erik sent many draft choices off the roster over his 10-year career with his persistence, attention to technique and skill.  After a season on Injured Reserve, Erik participated as the Houston Oilers’ World League delegate, spending spring of 1993 on the San Antonio Riders roster, where he received All-World League honors at the Offensive Guard position.  Over the course of his NFL career he participated in 143 regular season games at Guard and Center and had two “tackle eligible” touchdowns, receiving a John Madden turkey leg for his Thanksgiving Day touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in 1997.  He was recognized in Muscle and Fitness magazine as “NFL’s Strongest Man” for 7 of his 10 NFL seasons, as well.   Erik credits proper nutrition, focus on training and flexibility, and a positive attitude to his success in football.

PERSONAL: Erik is married to Lisa and resides in Highlands Ranch with their two children: Clay (16) and Margot (15).