PITTSBURGH — After Rutgers fired head coach Chris Ash on Monday, it’s believed that the Scarlet Knights set their eyes on Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi, among others.
Narduzzi said on Monday that he’s not interested.
NJ.com reported on Sunday that Rutgers officials were interested in speaking with Narduzzi, along with Pittsburgh native and Mississippi State head coach Joe Moorhead, Buffalo head coach Lance Leipold, Princeton head coach Bob Surace and Ohio State defensive coordinator and former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano.
Narduzzi didn’t seem too thrilled when asked about it on Monday at his weekly press-conference.
“I signed a long-term contract here, a few years ago,” Narduzzi said. “My daughter is a senior in high school, she will be a freshman next year in college.”
Narduzzi has five seasons remaining on a seven-year contract extension he signed with Pitt in 2017. Pitt has not released his new salary and any potential buyout figures. Narduzzi received $3.21m in total compensation from Pitt during the university’s 2017-18 fiscal year, according to Pitt’s IRS 990 report.
“I’m here at Pitt and I’m staying at Pitt,” Narduzzi said. “It’s real simple.”
Narduzzi has been at Pitt since 2015, when he became the 36th head coach of the Panthers after spending eight years as defensive coordinator at Michigan State. His overall record with the Panthers is 31-26. He is the eighth-winningest head coach in Pitt history.
Forget about it!
Scarlet Knights to announce late this week that Scarduzzi is a done deal.