COACHING STAFF COACHING STAFF Narduzzi arrived at Pitt following eight highly successful years as the defensive coordinator FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS MEDIA PAT NARDUZZI at Michigan State under Mark Dantonio. During that time the Spartans achieved five Top 25 UNDER NARDUZZI HEAD COACH finishes and Narduzzi’s defense proved instrumental in that success. Michigan State was the only team to rank in the nation’s top 10 in total defense and rushing defense each season from AT PITT 2011-14. On the afternoon of November 17, 2018, the scoreboard clock at Wake Forest’s BB&T Field had • Returner Quadree Henderson not yet reached zero. That didn’t stop the Pitt sideline or the stadium’s visitor section from In 2014, the Spartans finished with a No. 5 national ranking and 11-2 record following a stirring (2016 Consensus) starting an early raucous celebration. 42-41 victory over Baylor in the AT&T Cotton Bowl. Narduzzi’s defense shut out the high-scoring • Guard Dorian Johnson (2016) PREVIEW Bears in the fourth quarter, opening the door for 21 unanswered points by Michigan State. “Let’s go Pitt! Let’s go Pitt!” AT MICHIGAN STATE Michigan State boasted the nation’s top rushing defense in 2014, yielding just 88.5 yards • Safety Kurtis Drummond (2014) It sounded as if Heinz Field had been relocated to Winston-Salem. Those cheers reached a per game. The Spartans finished third nationally with 34 turnovers gained and eighth in total • Cornerback Darqueze Dennard crescendo when the game officially ended and the Panthers swarmed the field owning a 34-13 defense, holding opponents to just 315.8 yards per contest. (2013 Unanimous) victory and the first ACC Coastal Division title in program history. In 2013, Michigan State finished No. 3 in the country following a Big Ten title and 24-20 victory • Defensive Tackle Jerel Worthy The visiting locker room, hardly spacious under normal circumstances, was packed beyond over No. 5 Stanford in the Rose Bowl. In the wake of that championship season, Narduzzi was (2011 Consensus) capacity as ACC commissioner John Swofford presented the team with the Coastal Division named the 2013 recipient of the prestigious Broyles Award, annually presented to the country’s • Linebacker Greg Jones (2009 STAFF championship trophy. Legendary Pitt players Dan Marino and Jimbo Covert were among the top assistant coach. Consensus, 2010 Unanimous) attendees and joined in the celebration by taking and posing for selfies with the team. PERSONAL INFORMATION Narduzzi tutored an impressive list of decorated defensive players at Michigan State, including ACC AWARD WINNERS In the middle of the clamoring scene was head coach Pat Narduzzi. This was a moment he first team All-Americans in cornerback Darqueze Dennard, safety Kurtis Drummond, linebacker UNDER NARDUZZI BORN: April 22, 1966 had both dreamed of and worked tirelessly for since taking over the Panthers’ program on Greg Jones and defensive tackle Jerel Worthy. December 26, 2014. PROFILES PLAYER HOMETOWN: Youngstown, Ohio Dennard was a unanimous All-American in 2013, becoming the first Michigan State cornerback AT PITT “From the very beginning, we said our goal is to win championships, on and off the field,” to earn that distinction. He also was the school’s first winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, given Brian Piccolo Award ALMA MATER: Rhode Island, 1990 Narduzzi said. “That’s our mentality and it drives everyone in our program—players, coaches annually to college football’s top defensive back. Dennard was a first-round NFL Draft pick of • Running Back James Conner FAMILY: Narduzzi and his wife, and staff—every single day. Winning the first Coastal title in school history was a special the Cincinnati Bengals in 2014, the first Spartans defensive back taken in the initial round (2016) Donna, have four children: Arianna, moment but ultimately it only serves as motivation to achieve even greater things in the since 1961. In the 2015 draft, another Narduzzi pupil, Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes, Christina, Patrick and Isabella. future.” ACC Overall and Defensive Rookie was a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings. of the Year (Media) Narduzzi has provided the motivational fire for a program that, prior to his arrival, was frozen Narduzzi coached 19 first-team All-Big Ten selections. Four players won the conference’s top • Safety Jordan Whitehead (2015) COLLEGIATE PLAYING in a stretch of middling results. His passionate and relentless approach has spurred Pitt’s individual awards under his watch, including two Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year honorees SEASON 2018 ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year EXPERIENCE rise as an ACC contender. As a result, Narduzzi’s initial four seasons have witnessed many (Dennard in 2013 and Drummond in 2014). Shilique Calhoun was the Big Ten Defensive (Media) milestone moments and achievements. Lineman of the Year in 2013 while Greg Jones was the overall Defensive Player of the Year in • Running Back Qadree Ollison RHODE ISLAND, three-year starter at 2009. linebacker (1987-89). • Since taking over as head coach in 2015, the Panthers own the third-best record in ACC (2015) play with a 20-12 mark. Only Clemson (30-2) and Miami (21-11) have better ACC records Prior to Michigan State, Narduzzi spent three years (2004-06) as defensive coordinator under YOUNGSTOWN STATE, starter at during that timeframe. Dantonio at Cincinnati, helping the Bearcats to a pair of bowl invitations. ACC Co-Rookies of the Year linebacker (1985). (Coaches) • Narduzzi’s 28 overall wins are the most by a Pitt coach in his first four seasons in nearly In 2003, Narduzzi was the defensive coordinator at Miami of Ohio under the late Terry Hoeppner. • Safety Jordan Whitehead and RECORD BOOK RECORD COLLEGIATE COACHING four decades. (Jackie Sherrill compiled 39 victories from 1977-80.) The RedHawks stormed to a 13-1 record that season, capturing the Mid-American Conference Running Back Qadree Ollison EXPERIENCE • The Panthers have a reputation as a dangerous opponent for highly ranked foes. In 2017, (MAC) championship and defeating nationally ranked Louisville in the GMAC Bowl to finish (2015) Pitt closed the season with a 24-14 victory over No. 2 Miami. In 2016, the Panthers No. 10 in the Associated Press poll. While quarterback Ben Roethlisberger headlined Miami’s offense, Narduzzi’s stout unit topped the MAC in rushing defense (19th nationally), scoring BIG TEN AWARD WINNERS MIAMI (OH), 1990-91, graduate defeated two teams that finished in the top 5 of the final College Football Playoff rankings. assistant; 1992, wide receivers. Pitt gave No. 2 Clemson—that year’s eventual national champion—its only loss (43-42) defense (22nd nationally) and pass efficiency defense (34th nationally). UNDER NARDUZZI and kept No. 5 Penn State out of the playoff field by defeating the Nittany Lions, 42-39. Narduzzi served as linebackers coach at Northern Illinois for three seasons (2000-02). NIU won RHODE ISLAND, 1993-97, AT MICHIGAN STATE a pair of MAC divisional titles during his tenure and in 2002 had the league’s top rushing linebackers; 1998-99, defensive • In Narduzzi’s four seasons as head coach, Pitt has 26 All-ACC Academic Football Team Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year defense. HISTORY coordinator. honorees, the second-highest total among conference schools during that span. The • Safety Kurtis Drummond (2014) NORTHERN ILLINOIS, 2000-02, Panthers also were a recipient of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 2018 From 1993-99, Narduzzi coached at his alma mater, Rhode Island, serving as the Rams’ • Cornerback Darqueze Dennard linebackers. Academic Achievement Award after scoring a perfect single-year 1,000 Academic Progress defensive coordinator his final two seasons. He began his coaching career at Miami of Ohio, (2013) Rate (APR). working as a graduate assistant in 1990 and 1991, before earning his first full-time position as MIAMI (OH), 2003, defensive receivers coach for the 1992 season. Big Ten Defensive Lineman of coordinator. • Over the past four NFL Drafts (2016-19), the Panthers had 10 players selected, tied for the Year the sixth-highest total among ACC teams. Each of Pitt’s three 2018 draft picks—tackle CINCINNATI, 2004-06, defensive Narduzzi was an All-Ohio performer at Youngstown’s Ursuline High School, leading the Irish • Defensive End Shilique Calhoun Brian O’Neill (Minnesota Vikings), safety Jordan Whitehead (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and FOOTBALL PRO coordinator. to the Steel Valley championship and state playoffs as a senior in 1984. He was a starting (2013) cornerback Avonte Maddox (Philadelphia Eagles)—were rookie starters. Moreover, running linebacker under his father, the late Bill Narduzzi, as a freshman at Youngstown State MICHIGAN STATE, 2007-14, back James Conner, a Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2017 draft pick, was selected to the Pro Bowl University in 1985 before transferring to Rhode Island, where he became a three-year starter Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year defensive coordinator; 2013-14, after rushing for nearly 1,000 yards in his second professional season. for the Rams from 1987-89. • Linebacker Greg Jones (2009) assistant head coach. Narduzzi’s leadership of the Panthers is ensured through at least the 2024 season thanks to Bill Narduzzi was head coach at YSU from 1975-85. He led the Penguins to two NCAA Division PITTSBURGH, 2015-present, a seven-year contract unveiled by Pitt Director of Athletics Heather Lyke in December 2017. II playoff appearances, including the national championship game in 1979, and twice was head coach. “We’re thrilled Pat Narduzzi is our head football coach,” Lyke said. “We are deeply committed named the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Coach of the Year. (One of Bill’s first coaching posts to helping him, his staff and his student-athletes achieve at the highest levels in the ACC and was as a freshman line coach at Pitt in 1962.) PITT IS THIS nationally.