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| Graphic used from PittsburghPanthers.com |
A rising tide lifts all ships and after Pitt football players like Kenny Pickett and new Pitt transfers like Kedon Slovis have received more attention due to Pitt's recent success, it's now the coach's turn to prosper. It was announced this morning that Pat Narduzzi is now signed on as Pitt's head football coach through the 2030 season. To be exact, he signed on to be the Chris Bickell '97 Head football coach of the Pitt Panthers through the 2030 season.
Pitt is coming off arguably their greatest football season since the 70's. After winning double digit regular season games, the Panthers beat Wake Forest to take their first ever ACC Conference title in football. This was a huge step toward Pitt getting transfers like the aforementioned Kedon Slovis and top transfer wide receiver Konata Mumpfield. It also may have played into the decision for the entire Pitt starting offensive line to return for a final season.
Narduzzi certainly has turned the program around after the University stumbled through several head coaching hires in just a few year span. Even in some of Narduzzi's down years, across his seven-season tenure so far, the Panthers never come close to the bottom tier of the conference. The stability Narduzzi has brought to the program is what most universities of Pitt's caliber dream of. Narduzzi is now the most tenured coach in the entire Coastal division of the conference.
Now we all know a coach could leave or be fired at any time despite these contracts as long as the school can find a generous benefactor to buy out the contract or a coach can find his next employer willing to do the same. However, Narduzzi appears committed to staying at Pitt and continuing to build the program. And while the basketball program flounders into despair, it's nice to have stability for the other major money-making sport.