Today we learned that for the first time since Dave Wannstedt, the Pitt football program has stability.
The university agreed to a deal with head coach Pat Narduzzi to make him the face of Pitt program for the next seven years.
Rival coaches now can no longer use the threat of “Narduzzi will leave Pitt” on the recruiting trail against Pitt.
Just this week, the mother of Florida wide receiver Jeshaun Jones told PSN that one of the questions she asked Narduzzi on her sons official visit to Pitt was about his contract status.
That subject will no longer be an issue.
Following the news of Narduzzi’s extension, PSN reached out to a number of Pitt’s 2018 verbal commitments to get their reaction to the news.
Blake Zubovic, OT, Belle Vernon:
“Coach Narduzzi was one of the biggest reasons I committed to Pitt. He was for sure the one coach that was always honest and kept it real with me. The only way I would have ever decommitted was if he left so it’s awesome to know he’ll be there for my whole time at Pitt! I trust in Coach Duzz over anyone to bring Pitt back to its elite status.”
Courtesy of Blake Zubovic
Noah Palmer, DE, Thomas Jefferson:
“It is very exciting to us as recruits because that means we will get to be coached by the man who gave us the opportunity and that also shows his dedication to the University of Pittsburgh. It is also great because the way this program is changing and how the football program is on its way up to be a fantastic program. He is the perfect man to be in the position as head coach. The impact he had on my commitment was that he was really down to earth with me and didn’t sugarcoat anything. I also love the enthusiasm he brings to everything he does, and I love the way he his taking the program. I feel like are whole recruiting class wants to do everything they can to get Pitt back to national championship team. #H2P”
Courtesy of Noah Palmer
Jake Kradel, G, Butler:
“I’m very excited to know he’ll be here the whole time I’ll be there. Also, It’s great to see the whole athletic department and University believes in Coach and that’s huge for program success. Program stability was huge in my decision and I knew Coach Duzz was here to stay. He had a huge impact on me committing to Pitt. He is a players coach that’s gonna get the best out of his players and he is a winner. The Future is bright!”
Courtesy of Jake Kradel
Chase Brown, OT, Lackawanna CC:
“I saw the ESPN notification pop up on my phone and was happy to hear the news. I told my parents and they were excited as well. A big thing on me deciding where I wanted to go was how the head coach treats his players, assistant coaches, and my family and I. He treated us like we had known him and been apart of the program for years when I took my first visit. He’s been consistent with my family and I during this whole recruitment process and that means a lot to me. I’m excited to be apart of The Pitt family.”
John Morgan, DE, DeMatha HS:
“Well I want to say that I am really excited to see that Coach Duzz has signed that contract extension. It is something that as a commit I love because it shows that he has made Pitt his home just like me. Like seeing the recent fanatics with the college football world and these coaches, it is a great feeling to know that my coach will being staying to watch me and my teammates grow as young men!”
Judson Tallander, CB, DeMatha HS:
“I feel like it’s a good agreement. In my opinion, Coach Narduzzi can bring the program up and knowing that I have a coach like him who’s passionate and cares about development makes me feel settled. He played a huge role in me committing. The fact that the head coach is deeply involved in recruiting me (constant phone calls, constant texts, constant mail) meant something to me.”