Inside The Panthers

Pitt Introduces Three New Assistant Coaches

The Pitt Panthers have introduced three new offensive coaches to the staff.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Introduces Three New Assistant Coaches
Pitt Introduces Three New Assistant Coaches /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers have officially rounded out their new-look offensive staff this week, bringing in three new coaches to help kickstart a unit that has struggled at times over the past two seasons. 

In addition to new offensive coordinator, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi will welcome a new tight ends coach, Jacob Bronowski, running backs coach, Lindsey Lamar, and offensive line coach, Jeremy Darveau, all of whom were officially introduced this week.

Narduzzi parted ways with three veteran assistant coaches - running backs coach Andre Powell, offensive line coach Dave Borbley and tight ends coach Tim Salem - last week, about a month and a half after firing offensive coordinator frank Cignetti. Wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood was the only offensive assistant from 2023 retained and Narduzzi hired the former Western Carolina offensive coordinator, Kade Bell, to fill the same post in Pittsburgh.

Darvaeu just wrapped up his first season at Western Carolina, where he worked closely with Bell. The two have a history going back to their days at Valdosta State, where they won the 2018 Division II national title. 

“Jeremy brings to Pitt a great background as both a coach and player. His track record of developing individual talent and overall units is really impressive,” Narduzzi said. “I love his energy and I know our players are really going to enjoy being coached by him. Certainly his familiarity with Kade Bell’s system while at Western Carolina will be a huge asset as well. Jeremy’s lines were really instrumental for those outstanding offenses.”

Darvaeu coached 25 all-conference players, five All-Americans, and produced eight NFL offensive linemen during a 14-year career coaching offensive line. He has made other coaching stops at Southern Mississippi, South Florida, Florida and Southwest Minnesota State after a successful playing career at Louisville and Kentucky.

His lineage of pupils includes D. J. Humphries, a first-round NFL Draft selection of the Arizona Cardinals, and Trent Brown, a former Pro Bowler who became the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL in 2019

Lamar previously served as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Howard, which averaged 367 yards of total offense and averaged 28.5 points per game last season.

“Lindsey is a dynamic young coach who will make an immediate impression on our running backs room,” Narduzzi said. “I know he impressed us with his knowledge and passion for the game. His experience as an offensive coordinator while at Howard will also be invaluable for our entire staff.”

A former South Florida Bull, Lamar was the 2010 Big East Special Teams Player of the Year and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the Bulls in 2015, moving up to a quality control position by 2019. He's spent the last three seasons as an assistant at Howard.

Bronowski is in his second season as special teams coordinator at Miami (OH). Both the Redhawks' punter and placekicker posted career-high marks in field goal percentage and averaged punt yards last season, and returner Jalen Walker was a third-team all-conference selection. Bronowski has coached at Tennessee, Central Florida, Robert Morris and the University of New Mexico. He's coached special teams at every stop and was the tight ends coach for the Lobos as well.

“Under Jacob’s direction, the special teams at Miami of Ohio were absolutely elite,” Narduzzi said. “His units were extremely organized, executed at a high level and made a huge impact during their MAC championship season. Jacob is a really passionate coach and teacher. I know his impact will be immediate for us in a number of different areas.”

It's an almost brand-new coaching staff but with many of the same players returning on offense, the Panthers hope to reimagine how they score in 2024. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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