Sacramento State debunks report of Vick head-coaching interest

At ease, Hornets. Stingers down. For now.

Sacramento State is not in discussions to hire former NFL quarterback Michael Vick as the program’s next head coach, the school confirmed to The Sacramento Bee’s Joe Davidson after ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the news on Monday, citing sources.

A member of the school’s athletic department, who was not authorized to comment on the matter, spoke to The Sacramento Bee and debunked the report as a “rumor” and “not true.”

The Hornets are coming off a 3-9 season in the Blue Sky, which included a 1-7 conference record and a five-game losing skid to end the year.

Vick has not been a coach at the NFL or college level, but also recently told The Virginian-Pilot newspaper he interviewed with Norfolk State.

“I know how to lead, and I know what it takes,” Vick told the newspaper.

Vick, a four-time NFL Pro Bowler known for his electric two-way play making, has coaching experience with the Atlanta Legends, a former AAF team. In the NFL, he suited up for the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sacramento State’s last head coach was Andy Thompson, who got promoted to the role in 2023 after being the program’s defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022.

Thompson led the Hornets to a promising 8-5 mark in his first season before losing to South Dakota in the second round of the playoffs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.