Following a debut campaign in which he led the program to its most successful regular season in six years, University of Pittsburgh head football coach Pat Narduzzi has been awarded a contract extension by Athletic Director Scott Barnes.
Two years will be added to Narduzzi’s original five-year agreement, ensuring he will remain the Panthers’ head coach through at least the 2021 season. Financial terms and other contractual details were not disclosed.
“Pat Narduzzi has adrenalized Pitt football on and off the field,” Barnes said. “We are proud of what our program has accomplished this season. Moreover, we’re excited about what our student-athletes can continue to achieve–on the field, in the classroom and in the community–under Pat’s long-term leadership.”
“I’m greatly appreciative and humbled by the support and faith that Scott Barnes and Chancellor Patrick Gallagher have shown me,” Narduzzi said. “The University of Pittsburgh is an incredible place with incredible people. My family and I plan to make Pittsburgh our home for a very long time and we’re glad the leadership at Pitt feels the same way. It is an honor to serve as Pitt’s head football coach and I’m continuously energized by what we can, and will, accomplish here.”
In Narduzzi’s debut season, the Panthers have compiled an 8-4 record, their winningest regular season in six years. Pitt went 6-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, finishing as the runner-up in the Coastal Division.
Under Narduzzi’s watch, Pitt became the first school to sweep each of the ACC rookie awards in the same season. Freshman strong safety Jordan Whitehead and redshirt frosh running back Qadree Ollison were named the league’s top newcomers for 2015.
The Panthers have accepted an invitation to play in the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman in Annapolis, Md., where they will face the nationally ranked Navy Midshipmen on Dec. 28. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN and kick off at 2:30 p.m.