Frank Cignetti Jr. is reportedly coming back home.
Mark Whipple’s departure for Nebraska in December left a void in the middle of Pitt’s offense, as Whipple served as both offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, but Cignetti is expected to return to Pitt as the offensive coordinator, Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel reported.
Cignetti, a Pittsburgh native, graduated from Indiana University (Pa.) and served Pitt as a graduate assistant in his first coaching role. It’s been a long road for Cignetti, who already served as Pitt’s OC and QB coach from 2009-10, but he’s going to be back for another shot.
It’s an in-conference move for Cignetti, who served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Boston College over the past two seasons. With quarterback Phil Jurkovec (a fellow Pittsburgh native) injured this season, it wasn’t an easy season.
However, Cignetti’s track record as a quarterback guru and offensive mind extends back decades.
Cignetti spent nearly a decade with his father Frank at IUP, serving as the OC and QB coach over his final four seasons before jumping to the NFL as an offensive assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1999.
Since then, he’s spent time as either quarterbacks coach or offensive coordinator with the New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, New York Giants and Green Bay Packers at the NFL level and Fresno State, North Carolina California, Pitt, Rutgers and Boston College at the college level.
In his first run at Pitt, Cignetti served under head coach Dave Wannstedt and helped Bill Stull, Dion Lewis, Dorin Dickerson and Jon Baldwin to career seasons as Pitt’s 32.1 points per game fueled a 10-3 season in 2009.
While Cignetti’s impact would come working with players like Kedon Slovis, Israel Abanikanda and Jordan Addison in 2022, he’d also serve as one of the most active offensive coordinators in recruiting in recent memory.
Cavanaugh 2.0…. bring in Luke Getsy, Willie Korn. Re-tread tire hire. I-formation ProSet play action…. snooze Zzzzz
I agree. Heck with experience, a proven track record and a good recruiter. You are much better off going with a guy like Tom Storm, Keister Weese or the first female OC Margie Viola. These are all unknowns, but they are experts at the run and stun offense.
Jim Chaney was tried and true in 2015 and boring… Matt Canada, much younger and creative, livened things up in 2016 and PITT thumped PSU and Clemson that year and had a High Octane Offense. Doubt Cavanaugh 2.0 will allow them to average 40+/gm.
Great hire in every way shape and form. If you complain about this hire then your just a complainer.
Super comment – I agree!
The one report says Whipple did not go out and recruit like Marion did. Will a 56 year old established well travelled guy travel to recruit?
Just saying. Maybe go a bit younger, like a Getsy or try to pull off bringing in Major Applewhite from a Smaller School instead of tried and true but maybe not going to bulldog the recruiting trail like DL coach.
I think this is a great fit…also happy to see Cignetti back home. H2P!!
When will this officially be annoying? Have not heard anything else on his hiring.
Announced! Not annoying! ANNOUNCEED!
No. He’s right it will be annoying about the 3rd Qtr. Sept. 3rd 2022 against WVU or a week later against UTK by the 2nd Half.