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Pat Narduzzi as a Finalist for Dodd Trophy as Coach of the Year

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Pitt players have racked up national awards and honors for their play on the field all season, and while head coach Pat Narduzzi hasn’t gained too much national recognition, that could be about to change.

Narduzzi was announced as a finalist for the 2021 Dodd Trophy Tuesday morning by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. as one of the five coaches who has best embodied the foundation’s three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity — on and off the field.

Narduzzi guided Pitt to an 11-2 season in which the Panthers won the ACC title for the first time in program history. With a win in the Peach Bowl, Pitt’s first New Year’s Six Bowl since the 2005 Fiesta Bowl, the Panthers can match a program-best 12 wins set back in 1976.

It’s been a historic season for Pitt, and Narduzzi has been the leader on and off the field for the Panthers.

“The Dodd Trophy is the sport’s most coveted coach of the year award because it looks holistically at all aspects of what a coach’s position should entail,” Gary Stokan, the Peach Bowl Inc. CEO & president said in the Dodd press release. “These five finalists not only led their programs to new heights on the football field this year, but also in the classroom and throughout their communities as well.”

The five finalists for the prestigious award are Baylor’s Dave Aranda, Wake Forest’s Dave Clawson, Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell, Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh and Narduzzi. Of the five, Narduzzi’s APR (academic progress report) score of 988 is the second highest, and his 11 wins are the third highest.

Coincidentally, the Dodd Trophy winner will be announced in Atlanta, Georgia during bowl week at the 2021 Peach Bowl — of which Narduzzi and Pitt will be heavy participants.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
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Christopher Kovacs
Christopher Kovacs
2 years ago

Incredible Season! I Respect Kenny’s Decision for Peach Bowl. 5 Returning OL in 2022 is Awesome.
Gonna Need em,Especially in the 1st Two Games.
F U WVA!
Lol!

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