About a month ago, midway through Pat Narduzzi’s first season as Pitt’s head coach, athletic director Scott Barnes raised the idea of a contract extension at their weekly meeting.
“I was almost in shock,” Narduzzi said. “Like, ‘Are you serious? Already?’”
That idea became a reality Thursday as Narduzzi signed a two-year contract extension less than a year after being hired as the Panthers’ coach. Added on to the five-year initial deal he signed last December, Narduzzi’s contract at Pitt now runs through 2021.
“Pat Narduzzi has adrenalized Pitt football on and off the field,” Barnes said in a statement. “We are proud of what our program has accomplished this season.”
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Narduzzi’s salary is “competitive,” according to a source with knowledge of the extension.
Narduzzi led Pitt to its best regular season since 2009 in his first year, as the Panthers went 8-4 (6-2 ACC) and finished second in the ACC Coastal Division. They will wrap up their season Dec. 28 in the Military Bowl against Navy.
And while Pitt’s last two coaches have used the program as a springboard to more desirable jobs, Narduzzi insists he’s here for the long haul.
“It’s something that I came here with the intentions of doing, making this a long-term deal,” Narduzzi said. “We’re kind of where we want to be.”
Part of what makes Pitt so appealing for Narduzzi is his relationship with Barnes, who was hired four months after him in April. When Narduzzi was hired, there was some concern that Pitt hiring a football coach before an athletic director could lead to a rocky relationship between the two.
Quite the contrary, according to Narduzzi, who meets weekly with Barnes.
“It’s a great marriage right now,” Narduzzi said. “I’ve got two. I’ve got a beautiful wife and I’ve got Scott Barnes. We’ve got a great marriage going on in the athletic department.”
Narduzzi flatly denied any contact with other schools this offseason, despite reports linking him to Rutgers’ coaching vacancy, which has since been filled by Ohio State defensive coordinator Chris Ash.
“There’s absolutely no conversation with, not only them, but anybody,” Narduzzi said. “That’s a fact. You can hear it from me.”
Instead, Narduzzi was more concerned about the long-term futures of his assistant coaches. He said he hopes to keep his entire staff retained for next season, and said he’s not aware of any other schools expressing interest in any assistants.
“Any time you’ve got a great staff and you win football games, people are going to recognize those guys back there,” he said.
“We have to have continuity. We’ve had continuity in the past and I've seen what kind of success you can have with it.”
Still, that doesn’t mean Narduzzi doesn’t hear things when he’s visiting high school prospects this time of year. Pitt has developed a reputation as a stepping-stone job for coaches, and other coaches are quick to use that against the Panthers on the recruiting trail.
Narduzzi’s extension might not totally eliminate that, but it’s a step.
“I’ve heard from high school coaches and I’ve heard from recruits that people out there are slinging mud at us, saying we’re not going to be here long, we’re going to go do this and go do that,” Narduzzi said. “That’s great baloney. The message is, ‘Pitt is back and we’re going to be here for a while.’”
Sam Werner: swerner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @SWernerPG
First Published: December 10, 2015, 1:21 p.m.
