prospectus

Pat Narduzzi
Head Coach
2015 PITT PANTHERS SPRING FOOTBALL
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: April 22, 1966
Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio
Alma Mater: Rhode Island, 1990
Family: Narduzzi and his wife
Donna have four children:
Arianna, Christina, Patrick and
Isabella.
COLLEGIATE PLAYING
EXPERIENCE
Rhode Island, three-year starter
at linebacker (1987-89).
Youngstown State, starter at
linebacker (1985).
COLLEGIATE COACHING
EXPERIENCE
Miami (Ohio), 1990-91,
graduate assistant; 1992, wide
receivers.
Rhode Island, 1993-97,
linebackers; 1998-99, defensive
coordinator.
Northern Illinois, 2000-02,
linebackers.
Miami (Ohio), 2003, defensive
coordinator.
Cincinnati, 2004-06, defensive
coordinator.
Michigan State, 2007-14,
defensive coordinator, 2013-14,
assistant head coach.
Pittsburgh, 2015, head coach.
Nationally recognized as one of college football’s brightest coaching talents, Pat Narduzzi
was named the new head coach at the University of Pittsburgh on December 26, 2014.
A coach’s son who grew up 70 miles from Pittsburgh in Youngstown, Ohio—a city that also
takes pride in its industrial heritage and football tradition—Narduzzi spent the prior eight
years orchestrating Michigan State’s perennially devastating defense. Under his direction,
the Spartans were the only team to rank in the nation’s top 10 in total defense and rushing
defense each season from 2011-14.
Working under two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year Mark Dantonio, Narduzzi helped Michigan
State to Top 25 finishes in five of the past seven seasons. In 2014, the Spartans finished
with a No. 5 national ranking and 11-2 record following a stirring 42-41 victory over Baylor
in the AT&T Cotton Bowl. Narduzzi's defense shut out the high-scoring Bears in the fourth
quarter, opening the door for 21 unanswered points by Michigan State in one of the most
thrilling games of the 2014-15 bowl season.
Michigan State boasted the nation's top rushing defense in 2014, yielding just 88.5 yards
per game. The Spartans finished third nationally with 34 turnovers gained and eighth in
total defense, holding opponents to just 315.8 yards per contest.
In 2013, Michigan State finished No. 3 in the country following a Big Ten title and 24-20
victory over No. 5 Stanford in the Rose Bowl. In the wake of that championship season, Narduzzi
was named the 2013 recipient of the prestigious Broyles Award, annually presented to
the country’s top assistant coach.
“Our goal was not only to find the best football coach but also a person who would uphold
the values and mission of the University of Pittsburgh. In Pat Narduzzi we have found that
person,” said Pitt’s Acting Athletic Director Dr. Randy Juhl. “His achievements on the football
field are well documented. Pat is widely regarded as a rising star in the coaching profession
who is ready to lead his own program.
"It was obvious from our conversations that he also embraces the responsibilities he has
beyond the game," Juhl added. "Pat wants to impact the lives of his student-athletes long after
their Pitt careers end. We are excited about what our young men can accomplish, on and
off the field, under his watch.”
“The selection of Pat Narduzzi as our head football coach gave us an exceptionally satisfying
conclusion to a very gratifying search,” Pitt Executive Vice Chancellor Jerry Cochran said.
“As we began the process, we believed the Pitt head coaching position was a highly attractive
opportunity. That belief was only reinforced by the tremendous interest we received from
sitting head coaches as well as offensive and defensive coordinators from across the country.
Ultimately, our feeling was unanimous that Pat was the best person to lead our program into
what will be a very exciting future.”
“I am very honored to be the new head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh,” said
Narduzzi, the 37th head coach in the program’s history. “I want to thank Chancellor Gallagher,
Executive Vice Chancellor Jerry Cochran, Dr. Randy Juhl and [Pitt Associate Dean of
Students] Donna Sanft for providing me with this tremendous opportunity.
"It is an honor to join a program with such great history and tradition. I am very eager
to begin working with the young men who are already in the program and meet people
throughout the Pitt community. We are going to work very hard on the field, in the classroom
and in the community to make the University of Pittsburgh proud."
A product of America's "Rust Belt," Narduzzi embraces the traditions and culture of his
home region and wants to cultivate that within the Pitt football program.
"We will play with a tough, blue-collar mentality," Narduzzi said. "And how else would you
want it in the city of Pittsburgh? When somebody plays the University of Pittsburgh, they’re
going to know they were in a brawl. We will work tirelessly as coaches and players to get
things done every day.
“I am highly motivated to build this program into national prominence. I’d like to win a
bunch of football games here. How are we going to do that? We’re going to do it with relentless
energy. You can win championships here. It’s a world-class university and they expect
the best at Pitt."
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