Inside The Panthers

Report: Pat Narduzzi Dismisses Two Veteran Pitt Coaches

More coaching changes are in store for the Pitt Panthers this offseason.

Stephen Thompson

Report: Pat Narduzzi Dismisses Two Veteran Pitt Coaches
Report: Pat Narduzzi Dismisses Two Veteran Pitt Coaches /
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PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi has made yet more major changes to his offensive coaching staff this week, according to a report from Chris Carter of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. 

Carter reported that Pitt has parted ways with both offensive line coach Dave Borbley and running backs coach Andre Powell have been dismissed by Narduzzi, meaning that four of the five offensive assistant coaches from the 2023 team will not return in 2024. 

In addition to Borbley and Powell, Narduzzi had also relieved tight ends coach Tim Salem and offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti of their posts earlier in the offseason. Wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood remains the lone offensive assistant retained from the 2023 squad. 

Powell, like Salem, has been on Narduzzi's staff since he first took the head coaching job at Pitt in 2014. He's recruited and coached some star tailbacks during his time in Pittsburgh, including James Conner, Qadree Ollison, Israel Abanikanda and Rodney Hammond, among others. 

He's also developed some standout special teamers like place kicker Alex Kessman, punter Kirk Christodoulou and All-American return man Quadree Henderson. 

But in recent years, Powell has faced criticism for his distribution of carries among the running backs room on gameday and the subpar play of his special teams units, particularly the punters. 

Borbley had spent six years with the Panthers, many of them wildly successful. His unit paved the way for the first 1,000-yard rushing duo in Pitt history - Ollison and Darrin Hall - during the 2018 season. Panthers offensive linemen have amassed 17 All-ACC honors under Borbley's leadership and four of his pupils from Pitt are currently in the NFL. 

The Panthers have filled one of their vacant assistant coaching positions by bringing in Kade Bell from Western Carolina to coordinate the offense, but Narduzzi and company have three more positions to fill 

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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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