COACHING STAFF PAUL CHRYST HEAD COACH AND QUARTERBACKS Aaron Donald is known as a man of few words. College football’s most decorated defensive player in 2013, Donald lets his play talk for him. But when the unanimous All-American speaks—in the huddle, in the weight room or at a press conference—people listen. Such was the case on a December evening in Detroit’s Ford Field. Donald and the Panthers had just defeated Mid-American Conference champion Bowling Green, 30-27, in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Named the game’s Most Valuable Lineman—the latest of many trophies presented to him that month—Donald sat in front of a filled postgame media room. Asked to reflect on his career, Donald instead decided to look to the future—Pitt’s future. “The program is going to be back on top with Coach Chryst,” Donald said. “That’s a guarantee.” PERSONAL INFORMATION Donald’s head coach simply smiled. Like his all-everything defensive tackle, Paul Chryst is BORN: November 17, 1965 also a man of few words when it comes to talking about himself. HOMETOWN: Madison, Wis. “You don’t talk about doing things,” Chryst likes to say. “You just go do them.” ALMA MATER: Wisconsin, 1988 Entering his third season at Pitt, Chryst has emphasized a substance-over-style approach FAMILY: Chryst and his wife Robin have two that perfectly reflects the city of Pittsburgh. His blueprint is based on toughness, teamwork daughters, Katy and JoJo, and one son, Danny. and hard work. The 2013 season produced further evidence of Chryst’s blueprint taking shape. While by no COACHING EXPERIENCE means a finished product, the Panthers continue to evolve into a program ready to compete for championships, on and off the field. Consider: COLLEGE WEST VIRGINIA, 1989-90, • Pitt’s triumph over MAC champ Bowling Green clinched a winning campaign and the graduate assistant. program’s first bowl victory since 2010. UW-PLATTEVILLE, 1993, offensive coordinator • In the season’s final five games, Pitt won three contests with second-half comebacks. and quarterbacks. Those victories included Notre Dame (28-21), Syracuse (17-16) and Bowling Green. From 2010-12, the Panthers did not win a single contest when facing a second-half deficit. ILLINOIS STATE, 1995, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks. • Pitt also defeated 2013 Coastal Division champion Duke, 58-55, for the Panthers’ first ACC win in school history. OREGON STATE, 1997-98, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks. • Under Chryst’s watch, Aaron Donald became Pitt’s most decorated defensive player since WISCONSIN, 2002, tight ends. the legendary Hugh Green. Donald brought home to Pittsburgh an array of glistening hardware, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy OREGON STATE, 2003-04, offensive and Rotary Lombardi Award. Donald was selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft coordinator and quarterbacks. by the St. Louis Rams. WISCONSIN, 2005, co-offensive coordinator • Twelve true freshmen played for Pitt last season and seven made at least one start. The and tight ends. Panthers were led in eight different statistical categories by freshmen. WISCONSIN, 2006-11, offensive coordinator • Tyler Boyd, a unanimous Freshman All-American, paced the nation’s frosh receivers and quarterbacks. with 85 catches for 1,174 yards. Those numbers surpassed Larry Fitzgerald’s freshman PITTSBURGH, 2012-present, head coach; receiving records at Pitt. 2014, quarterbacks. • Pitt ranked second in the ACC with six players on the league’s All-Academic Football Team. PROFESSIONAL Pitt’s NFL pipeline has also been revived under Chryst. In addition to Donald being a first- round selection, quarterback Tom Savage (Houston Texans) and receiver Devin Street (Dallas SAN ANTONIO RIDERS, 1991-92, wide Cowboys) were taken in the 2014 draft. receivers, running backs, tight ends (World League of American Football). Savage experienced a career revival at Pitt, saying “Coach Chryst made football fun again for me.” OTTAWA ROUGH RIDERS, 1994, quarterbacks (Canadian Football League). “Without Pittsburgh I wouldn’t be here,” Savage said. “The city took me in and embraced me. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS, 1996, I will forever have a spot in my heart for Pitt.” offensive coordinator and quarterbacks Street enjoyed the best production of his career in Chryst’s offense and finished as Pitt’s all- (Canadian Football League). time leading pass catcher with 202 receptions. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS, 1999-2001, tight ends (National Football League). 18 PITT FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE COACHING STAFF In his draft day call to Street, Dallas head coach Jason Garrett told him, “I had a great visit FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS MEDIA INFORMATION with Coach Chryst about you so I know you’re well trained and ready to go.” UNDER CHRYST The strong finish and highlights of the 2013 season can be traced back to the year prior, Chryst’s first at Pitt, when a stable foundation began to take shape. AT PITTSBURGH • Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald* (2013) The Panthers won four of their final six regular-season games in 2012 to earn a bowl berth. Pitt notched two victories over Top 25 opponents—35-17 over Virginia Tech and 27-6 over Rutgers—and nearly claimed a third before falling in three overtimes, 29-26, to eventual BCS AT WISCONSIN title game entrant Notre Dame. Under Chryst’s direction, Pitt produced a 3,000-yard passer • Running Back Montee Ball (2011) and 1,000-yard rusher in the same season for the first time ever. • Center Pete Konz (2011) 2014 PREVIEW Chryst came to Pitt following an exceptional eight-year tenure at Wisconsin (2002, 2005- • Guard Kevin Zeitler (2011) 11), where he earned acclaim as one of college football’s finest teachers and strategists. The • Tackle Gabe Carimi* (2010) Badgers compiled a 60-19 record (.759) during his six seasons overseeing the offense, which • Tight End Lance Kendricks# (2010) annually ranked among the best in the country. • Guard John Moffitt (2010) • Guard Kraig Urbik (2008) In 2011, Chryst helped Wisconsin to an 11-3 record and its second consecutive Big Ten title • Tight End Travis Beckum (2007) COACHING STAFF and Rose Bowl berth. The Badgers featured a prolific offense that set no fewer than a dozen school records, including points per game (44.1 avg.), total offense per game (469.9 avg.), • Tackle Joe Thomas* (2006) total rushing yards (3,298) and total passing yards (3,280). * Unanimous # Consensus From 2009-11, Wisconsin achieved the Big Ten’s best record (32-8, .800) while averaging 39.2 points per game during that span. Chryst also coached the UW quarterbacks and was twice MAJOR AWARD WINNERS named a finalist for the prestigious Broyles Award, annually presented to college football’s UNDER CHRYST top assistant. In many ways, those powerful Wisconsin offenses were a reflection of the man drawing up and • Bronko Nagurski Trophy PROFILES PLAYER calling the plays. The players were well prepared, fundamentally sound, workmanlike and (nation’s outstanding defensive player) had fun playing the game. Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald (2013) • Chuck Bednarik Award Adapting schemes to his players has been a hallmark of Chryst’s coaching career. In 2011, quarterback Russell Wilson transferred from NC State to Wisconsin for his final season of (nation’s defensive player of the year) eligibility. Despite not arriving on UW’s campus until July, Wilson was seamlessly and Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald (2013) effectively adapted into the Badgers’ offensive attack. • Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (nation’s top senior quarterback) 2013 SEASON IN REVIEW Under Chryst’s guidance, Wilson would throw for more than 3,100 yards with 33 touchdowns and only four interceptions as Wisconsin stormed to the Big Ten title and Rose Bowl. He led Quarterback Scott Tolzien (2010) the nation in pass efficiency with a staggering 191.78 rating, topping Baylor Heisman Trophy • Outland Trophy winner Robert Griffin III’s 189.48. (nation’s outstanding lineman) Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald (2013) In the 2012 NFL Draft, Wilson—still considered by some to be a stronger baseball prospect— was selected by the Seattle Seahawks. He seized the starting job as a rookie and in his second Offensive Tackle Gabe Carimi (2010) season led Seattle to victory in Super Bowl XLVIII, a 43-8 demolition of the Denver Broncos. Offensive Tackle Joe Thomas (2006) • Rotary Lombardi Award In 2010, Chryst’s Wisconsin offense nearly became the first in FBS history to have three (nation’s top lineman/linebacker) different players rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. The Badgers’ devastating running RECORD BOOK game featured James White (1,052 yards), John Clay (1,012) and Montee Ball (996). That team Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald (2013) had an incredible 48 rushing touchdowns, tying the Big Ten record. CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Ball was a first team All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist in 2011 after leading the AWARD WINNERS UNDER CHRYST nation in total rushing yards (1,923) and scoring (39 touchdowns and 16.71 points/game). • ACC Defensive Player of the Year Ball’s 39 TDs tied the NCAA record set by Oklahoma State’s Barry Sanders in 1988. Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald (2013) PITT HISTORY Despite the gaudy numbers his offenses annually produce, Chryst refuses to prioritize • Graham-George Big Ten Offensive schemes over relationships. “Players don’t care how much you know until they see how much Player of the Year you care,” he said. Running Back Montee Ball (2011) Chryst’s approach to coaching undoubtedly was influenced by his family and upbringing. He • Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back has been around athletics and coaches his entire life. of the Year PRO FOOTBALL His late father George was a longtime successful head coach at UW-Platteville and a former Montee Ball (2011) Wisconsin player and assistant coach.