With the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30 just over a week away now, with only the Christmas holiday standing in the way, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi still isn’t quite ready to announce the interim offensive coordinator just yet.
Even if, in his heart of hearts, he already knows who will serve as Pitt’s offensive play-caller.
“I may have, right in here, decided,” Narduzzi said Wednesday at the Rooney Sports Complex, pointing to his heart. “We got four coaches on offense that are ready and willing to give that game plan – you know, they all do their jobs anyway. So, I’m not going to share that with you right now. I guess we’ll share it when we get down to Atlanta.”
Without former offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, who left for Nebraska earlier this month, the interim offensive coordinator position has drawn a lot of speculation. With wide receivers coach Brennan Marion and tight ends coach Tim Salem the only offensive assistants with OC experience, it’s likely one of the two will receive the green light — and Marion has been the name many want to see promoted to the permanent position.
With Narduzzi saying Tuesday that about 85% of the game plan for the Peach Bowl is decided, and the offense not making any changes even without Kenny Pickett under center, it would make a lot of sense if Marion were to be named to the interim position.
However, Narduzzi said the search for a permanent offensive coordinator is still a ways off. With recruiting and Peach Bowl prep still underway, he said he’s not turning his attention to the opening until it can warrant his full attention.
“Yeah, I’ll work on that… I guess the 31st,” Narduzzi said. “New Year’s Eve Day, I guess, whatever it is. That’ll be afterward. I’m a guy – I’m not smart enough to do all these different things and do them all well. I need to focus on this, do this and keep it all here. If you try to be the jack of all, you’ll be the master of none.”
With Pitt heading to Atlanta after Christmas for the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30, the offensive coordinator announcement will come next week.
