Pitt has officially replaced Rob Harley on the football staff as the program announced Tuesday morning that Ryan Manalac is the team’s new linebackers coach.
Manalac has a long history with head coach Pat Narduzzi, first as a player at Cincinnati and then coaching under him at both Cincinnati and Michigan State. Most recently, Manalac has served as the defensive coordinator at Bucknell, where in 2019 they had the top ranked defensive unit in the Patriot League.
“As long as I’ve known Ryan, as both a player and a coach, he’s always been the type of person who simply puts his head down and gets right to work,” said Narduzzi. “He’s relentless in his work ethic and has an intelligence to match. Ryan will make an immediate impact for us because he’s not only coached our defense but also played in it. The fact that he’s branched off and learned new techniques and schemes during his career will only make us better. I can’t wait for our linebackers to work with him because I know they will take huge strides in their development under his guidance.”
“Coach Narduzzi has had an incredible impact on me as a student-athlete, football coach and as a person,” said Manalac. “I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. The University of Pittsburgh is a special place. Pitt football is an outstanding program. I am excited to get started.”
Manalac is a native of Pickerington, Ohio and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cincinnati in 2008 and also holds a master’s degree in kinesiology from Michigan State in 2012.
