Pat Narduzzi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pat Narduzzi
PatNarduzziPittfootballHC.jpg
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamPittsburgh
ConferenceACC
Record53-37
Annual salary$3.213 million[1]
Biographical details
Born (1966-04-22) April 22, 1966 (age 55)
New Haven, Connecticut
Playing career
1985Youngstown State
1987–1989Rhode Island
Position(s)Linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1990–1991Miami (OH) (GA)
1992Miami (OH) (WR)
1993–1997Rhode Island (LB)
1998–1999Rhode Island (DC)
2000–2002Northern Illinois (LB)
2003Miami (OH) (DC)
2004–2006Cincinnati (DC)
2007–2014Michigan State (DC)
2015–presentPittsburgh (HC)
Head coaching record
Overall53–37
Bowls1–4
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 ACC (2021)
2 ACC Coastal (2018, 2021)
Awards
1 Broyles Award (2013)

Patrick Regan Narduzzi (born April 22, 1966) is an American football coach and former player. He is the current head coach at the University of Pittsburgh. He was formerly the defensive coordinator at Michigan State. He attended Youngstown State University and the University of Rhode Island. He earned his master's degree from Miami University.

Career[]

Early years[]

Narduzzi began his career at Miami University in 1990 where he was a graduate assistant in 1990 and 1991 and where he tutored the wide receivers in 1992. From 1993 to 1999 Narduzzi coached at the University of Rhode Island coaching the linebackers from 1993 to 1997 and as the defensive coordinator from 1998 to 1999. From 2000 to 2002, he served as the linebackers coach at Northern Illinois University. He was defensive coordinator at Miami University in 2003 before joining the University of Cincinnati staff as defensive coordinator in 2004.

Assistant Coach[]

Cincinnati[]

Narduzzi became the defensive coordinator at the University of Cincinnati in 2004, and left in 2007 to coach at Michigan State University. Narduzzi was a candidate for the head coaching position at Cincinnati, but Central Michigan University head coach Brian Kelly was named to the post on December 3, 2006. Narduzzi had informed University of Cincinnati officials that if he was not offered a permanent head coach position, he would follow Mark Dantonio to Michigan State University as defensive coordinator.

Michigan State[]

Narduzzi was brought along by Dantonio to revamp the depleted Michigan State defense that previous coach John L. Smith left behind. Led by Narduzzi's stingy defenses, the Spartans improved dramatically, amassing four seasons of 11 or more wins, two Big Ten Conference championships, and six victories over rival Michigan in seven years. From 2011–2014, Michigan State was the only team to rank in the FBS Top 10 in total defense and rushing defense. Narduzzi was pursued for other jobs, including as defensive coordinator at Texas A&M University and head coach at University of Connecticut. Narduzzi chose to remain at Michigan State and helped the 2012 team and the 2013 team lead the Big Ten in total defense. In 2013, he won the Broyles Award, which is given to the nation's best assistant coach.

In his last game as MSU's defensive coordinator, the Spartans won the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic by rallying from 20 points down in the fourth quarter and finished the season with an overall record of 11–2. Dantonio said of Narduzzi after the game: "You want the best for your people. To win the last game like that for Coach Narduzzi was something that we could to send him out with and that will be a memory for life. He's been incredibly loyal here. He's an extremely hard worker. He's been extremely successful. And now it's time for him to grow. He'll grow as the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh. They're getting a great football coach and a great person and a guy who is going to impact young people. So it's going to be very exciting for him as well as his family."[2]

Head Coach[]

Pitt[]

On December 23, 2014, Sports Illustrated reported Narduzzi would become the new head coach of the University of Pittsburgh football team.[3] On December 26, 2014, Narduzzi was officially introduced as the 36th head football coach.

In 2015, Narduzzi led Pitt to an 8–5 (6-2 in the ACC) record and a trip to the Military Bowl where they lost to #21 Navy, 44–28. After starting the season 2-0, Pitt traveled to Iowa, where they lost on a last second 57-yard FG as time expired.[4] The team bounced back to win 4 straight conference games, but finished the regular season losing 3 of their final 5 regular season games.

In 2016, Pitt recorded another 8–5 (5-3 in the ACC) record as they went to the Pinstripe Bowl, but lost to Northwestern, 31–24. His 2nd season was highlighted by 2 wins against top-5 teams, a 43–42 upset win over eventual National Champion #1 Clemson Tigers and a 42–39 victory over eventual Big Ten Champion #7 Penn State Nittany Lions.

In 2017, Pitt opened with optimism after landing 5-star[5] USC-transfer QB Max Browne.[6] After struggling in a 28–21 win over FCS Youngstown State and losing 33–14 the next week to rival #4 Penn State, Narduzzi's defense faltered in a 59–21 loss to #9 Oklahoma State and a 35–17 defeat in their ACC opener to Georgia Tech. Despite wins over Duke (24–17) and Virginia (31���14), they also lost to Syracuse (27–24), #20 NC State (35–17), North Carolina (34–31), and Virginia Tech (20–14). On Black Friday, led by then freshman QB Kenny Pickett in his first collegiate start, Pitt shocked #2 Miami (FL) 24–14 at home,[7] and finished the season 5–7 (3–5 in the ACC). This marked the first time under Narduzzi that the Panthers did not qualify for a bowl game, and the first game Pitt did not play in a bowl since 2007.[8] Following the season, Pat Narduzzi signed a 7-year contract extension to keep him with the program through the 2024 season.[9]

In 2018, Narduzzi led Pitt to its first ACC Coastal Division title,[10] going 6–2 in conference play and 7-5 overall. After a rocky start to the season following losses to rival #17 Penn State (51-6) and #13 UCF (45-14), Pitt dropped to 2-3 overall (1-1 in the ACC) after 5 games. Pitt rattled off 4 wins in their final 5 regular season games to close the season strong. Pitt squared off against the soon-to-be-crowned National Champion[11] #2 Clemson Tigers in the ACC Championship Game, where they lost 42–10. Pitt accepted a bid to play in the Sun Bowl, falling to Stanford (14–13),[12] finishing the season 7-7 overall.

In 2019, Narduzzi led Pitt to another 7-5 regular season record (4-4 in the ACC), with a notable win over #16 UCF, ending their 27-game regular season win streak.[13] Three close losses to rival #13 Penn State (17-10),[14] Miami (FL) (16-12), and Boston College (26-19) defined their up-and-down season. Pitt competed in the Quick Lane Bowl against Eastern Michigan University, winning 34-30 to earn Narduzzi his first bowl victory during his tenure at Pitt. The defense finished 2nd in the FBS in total team sacks (51.0).

In 2020, Narduzzi's 6th year as head coach, Pitt posted an overall record of 6-5 (5-5 in the ACC). The team began the season 3-0 (1-0 in the ACC), including a notable win vs. #24 Louisville. Pitt then dropped 4 straight games to NC State (30-29), Boston College (31-30 in OT), #13 Miami (FL) (31-19), and #3 Notre Dame (45-3). In this 11-game "COVID" shortened season,[15] Pitt qualified for a bowl game with a season finale win at Georgia Tech (34-20), but declined to participate in the postseason for the health and safety of the team.[16] Pitt's defense finished 1st in the FBS in total team sacks (46.0).

In 2021, Narduzzi and the Panthers program sky-rocketed into the national spotlight,[17] finishing 11-2 (7-1 in conference games). He led Pitt to its first ACC title since joining the conference in 2011,[18] beating Wake Forest 45-21 in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, NC. Pitt went on to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, without starting quarterback and 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner Kenny Pickett,[19] falling to #10 Michigan St. (31-21),[20] finishing the season 11-3. The loss dropped Narduzzi's bowl record to 1-4 during his regime. The Narduzzi-led Panthers reached 10 regular season wins for the 7th time in program history, and the 1st time in the last 40 years.[21] Pitt was ranked for the final 7 weeks of the regular season, reaching a peak ranking of #12 in the CFP polls,[22] before finishing the season ranked #13 in the final AP poll.[23] With Narduzzi's speciality on the defensive side of the ball, Pitt's defense finished with these FBS statistical rankings:[24] 2nd in total team sacks (54.0), 2nd in opponent 4th-down percentage (.269%), T-2nd in defensive TD's (5), 4th in team tackles for loss (111.0), 5th in team tackles for loss per game (7.9), T-5th in total defensive interceptions (16), 6th in rushing defense allowed (89.3ypg), 15th in opponent 3rd-down percentage (.335%), T-19 in turnovers gained (23), and 42nd in scoring defense (23.64ppg). Following Pitt's best season since the 1981-82 National Championship team,[25] Athletic Director Heather Lyke announced she was working on a contract extension with Coach Narduzzi.[26]

The outlook for 2022 remains high for Narduzzi, his team, and the Pitt fanbase. Returning to Pitt's schedule includes longtime rival WVU, where they renew the Backyard Brawl football matchup for the first time since 2011.[27] Led by 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner [28] in Jordan Addison, Pitt returns a majority of their starters from the previous year, including 8 on offense and 7 on defense.[29] Narduzzi and his staff were able to add high-profile transfers Kedon Slovis (QB, USC),[30] Konata Mumpfield (WR, Akron),[31] and Shayne Simon (LB, Notre Dame)[32] to a returning veteran group of Panthers, including 10 All-ACC returning honorees, poised to repeat as ACC Champions. New offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, Jr. rejoined his hometown Panthers[33] from Boston College, last serving as the OC with Pitt in 2009 and 2010.

Personal life[]

Narduzzi is the son of Bill Narduzzi, who was the head coach at Youngstown State University from 1975 to 1985. Pat played football for his father in 1985 as a freshman. Narduzzi is married and has four children.[34]

Head Coaching Record[]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Pittsburgh Panthers (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2015–present)
2015 Pittsburgh 8–5 6–2 2nd (Coastal) L Military
2016 Pittsburgh 8–5 5–3 T–2nd (Coastal) L Pinstripe
2017 Pittsburgh 5–7 3–5 T–4th (Coastal)
2018 Pittsburgh 7–7 6–2 1st (Coastal) L Sun
2019 Pittsburgh 8–5 4–4 T–3rd (Coastal) W Quick Lane
2020 Pittsburgh 6–5 5–5 T–6th
2021 Pittsburgh 11–3 7–1 1st (Coastal) L Peach† 13 13
2022 Pittsburgh 0–0 0–0 T-1st (Coastal)
Pittsburgh: 53–37 36–22
Total: 53–37
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References[]

  1. ^ "USA Today".
  2. ^ "Post-Game Quotes: Cotton Bowl Classic - Michigan State Official Athletic Site". Msuspartans.com. Archived from the original on 2015-01-04. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  3. ^ Thamel, Pete (December 23, 2014). "Michigan State Spartans defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi to be new Pittsburgh Panthers head coach - College Football". SI.com. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  4. ^ "Pittsburgh vs. Iowa - Game Summary - September 19, 2015 - ESPN".
  5. ^ "Max Browne, Pittsburgh Panthers, Quarterback".
  6. ^ "Pitt lands Trojans graduate-transfer QB Browne". 15 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Miami vs. Pittsburgh - Game Summary - November 24, 2017 - ESPN".
  8. ^ "Pittsburgh Panthers football".
  9. ^ "Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh Agree on 7-Year Contract Extension". Bleacher Report.
  10. ^ "Pittsburgh vs. Wake Forest - Game Recap - November 17, 2018 - ESPN".
  11. ^ "Clemson vs. Alabama - Game Summary - January 7, 2019 - ESPN".
  12. ^ "Stanford vs. Pittsburgh - Game Summary - December 31, 2018 - ESPN".
  13. ^ "Pittsburgh hands No. 16 Central Florida its first regular season loss since 2016". USA Today.
  14. ^ "Pittsburgh vs. Penn State - Box Score - September 14, 2019 - ESPN".
  15. ^ "ACC Announces Plans for Football and Fall Olympic Sports".
  16. ^ "Pittsburgh football team elects to not play in bowl game this season". USA Today.
  17. ^ "Saunders: Kenny Pickett's Heisman Bid Put Pitt Back in National Spotlight". 12 December 2021.
  18. ^ "ACC accepts Syracuse, Pitt for 14-team league". 18 September 2011.
  19. ^ "Pitt's Kenny Pickett Opts Out of Peach Bowl to Prepare for NFL Draft". 17 December 2021.
  20. ^ "Pittsburgh vs. Michigan State - Game Summary - December 30, 2021 - ESPN".
  21. ^ "Pitt Wins 10 Regular Season Games for First Time in 40 Years". 27 November 2021.
  22. ^ "College Football Playoff - Rankings".
  23. ^ "NCAA College Football Coaches Poll | USA Today Sports". USA Today.
  24. ^ https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/742
  25. ^ "Panther-lair - Pitt earns highest AP poll finish since 1982".
  26. ^ "Pitt HC Pat Narduzzi Working on Extension with AD Heather Lyke". 14 December 2021.
  27. ^ "Pittsburgh, West Virginia announce 'Backyard Brawl' will return in 2022".
  28. ^ "Pittsburgh's Jordan Addison Wins 2021 Biletnikoff Award". Bleacher Report.
  29. ^ "Pitt set to return entire offensive line in 2022". 22 December 2021.
  30. ^ "Pitt lands former USC quarterback Kedon Slovis". 22 December 2021.
  31. ^ "Pitt Lands Highly Coveted Akron Transfer Wide Receiver Konata Mumpfield". 2 January 2022.
  32. ^ "Former Notre Dame linebacker Shayne Simon transfers to Pitt".
  33. ^ "Pitt set to hire Frank Cignetti as offensive coordinator". 13 January 2022.
  34. ^ "Pat Narduzzi Bio - Pitt Football - PittsburghPanthers.com - Official Athletic Site of the University of Pittsburgh". www.pittsburghpanthers.com. Retrieved April 19, 2017.[dead link]

External links[]

Retrieved from ""