Pat Narduzzi Hasn't Considered Midseason Coaching Changes

Pitt Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi isn't thinking about making coaching changes midseason.
Pat Narduzzi Hasn't Considered Midseason Coaching Changes
Pat Narduzzi Hasn't Considered Midseason Coaching Changes /
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PITTSBURGH -- With the Pitt Panthers sitting at 2-7 and few other wins, if any, expected to materialize over the remaining three weeks of the regular season, many spectators have set an eye towards the offseason and what can and should change before the 2024 season.  

When college football teams post a record as dismal as the Panthers' currently is, coaching changes are expected, if not at the top then almost certainly further down the totem pole. And in this day and age, they can often happen in-season as head coaches and athletic directors feel pressure to succeed as soon as possible. But that is not in the cards for Pitt, according to head coach Pat Narduzzi. 

“You know, No. 1 we’re worried about Syracuse and not worried about the chaos on the outside that happens," Narduzzi said when asked if he had considered making any coaching changes midseason. "We’re just worried about our kids and what we do in this program and nothing else. There’s nothing that’s going to speed us up and how we do what we do here at Pitt.”

Midseason coaching changes have happened at several different schools around the country this season. Indiana let go of offensive coordinator Walt Bell during the first week of October after the Hoosiers had averaged 15.75 points per game against FBS competition prior to their bye week. 

USC dismissed maligned offensive coordinator Alex Grinch earlier this week after the Trojans allowed 29.2 points per game in 2022 and 34.5 per contest through 10 games in 2023. 

Iowa did not officially fire offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, but interim athletic director Beth Goetz told Ferentz that he would not be retained for the 2024 season. The Hawkeyes have never averaged 20 points per game in his six seasons calling plays. 

Narduzzi didn't rule out the notion of coaching changes happening at Pitt, but was strongly opposed to them happening in the middle of a season. He claims he's more concerned with this weekend's game against Syracuse than what his coaching staff or roster will look like moving forward. 

“I’d like to take these last couple games to get some wins," Narduzzi said. "I’m not worried about looks. We got spring ball and all that. I’m not worried about who’s got this or who does — I’m trying to go win a football game and that will always be why we step out on the field for a football game.”

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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: