Could Pitt be having a reunion with Matt Canada? It seems like it’s at the very least a possibility.
Industry sources tell Pittsburgh Sports Now that within the last two weeks, Pat Narduzzi has had multiple conversations with Canada about returning to Pitt. Canada was the team’s offensive coordinator in 2016 before accepting a similar, but a more highly compensated position at LSU.
PSN has been told that the first conversation between Narduzzi and Canada took place last week and the two sides left with optimism, but that optimism may have cooled in the meantime.
Before Canada accepted the job at LSU, Scott Barnes and Pitt were prepared to pay him $1 million to stay at Pitt as offensive coordinator, which would’ve been the highest in school history. After leading the Pitt offense to record breaking numbers, Canada was named one of five finalists for the Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football.
Canada is very much interested in the job and would love to return to Pitt, but would wants to be a head coach in the future. There is a possibility that the Northern Illinois job will be opening up. Canada and Narduzzi both worked at NIU as young assistants.
This same source told PSN that Canada has turned down an opportunity to become the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Indiana. Apparently, Canada wasn’t comfortable with not having a big say in who his other offensive assistants would be and said no.
If the talks with Pitt get to that point, the wide receivers job is still vacant and Andre Powell is someone that Canada is familiar and comfortable working with. Canada was the offensive coordinator here when Kenny Pickett committed, so he would have some familiarity with him and his game.
I sincerely hope that there could be a reunion, even for one year, because Canada knows how to coach an offense.Coach could hire a young assistant to learn from him, so that when his opportunity comes,we would have some continuity.
I mentioned Canada at least twice last week on this sight, as the man to get. I was hoping he would be interested in being a long term assistant. I would not pay him 1M for one years service.