Frank Cignetti Jr. spent two seasons at Pitt as the offensive coordinator, and that will be the extent of his most recent tenure in Pittsburgh.
Pat Narduzzi announced Sunday that Cignetti will not return as the Pitt offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach next season — opening the door for another offensive coordinator hire in the Narduzzi era.
“I want to thank Frank for his service and dedication to our football program the past two years,” Narduzzi said in the press release. “We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”
Jim Chaney, Matt Canada, Shawn Watson (two seasons), Mark Whipple (three seasons) and Cignetti (two seasons) have served as offensive coordinators for Narduzzi in his nine seasons as the Pitt head coach.
The next offensive coordinator that Narduzzi hires will be the most important of his nearly 10-year tenure, and while Narduzzi has a “type” when it comes to offensive coordinators, he has to nail this one.
So, while this is just speculation with some notable options that Narduzzi could look at, here are a few candidates that PSN has on the Pitt OC radar.
Mike Shanahan — JMU offensive coordinator
Shanahan will be a popular choice over the next couple of weeks, considering his success at JMU and his status as a native of Western Pennsylvania.
Shanahan, 33, has served as the JMU offensive coordinator since 2021, working in Harrisonburg, Va. since 2018, and he’s done a good job for a program that has made the jump to the FBS level.
He graduated from Norwin High School and played college ball at Pitt in the early 2010s. And since serving as an assistant at Pitt in 2014 and 2015, he’s followed former Pitt offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr.’s brother Curt from Indiana (Pa.) to Elon to JMU.
JMU ranked among the top offenses in the FBS in 2022, averaging 37 points per game and 452.5 yards per game, and the Dukes are averaging 35.2 points per game and 430.3 yards per game this season.
Dino Babers — former Syracuse head coach
It’s no secret that Narduzzi and Babers are good friends. In the buildup to Pitt’s loss to Syracuse at Yankee Stadium earlier this month, Narduzzi talked about how the Narduzzi and Babers families spend time together when possible.
So, with Babers, 62, recently out of a job after being fired by Syracuse, it does create a link.
Babers actually spent a season at Pitt as the running backs coach in 2003, and he went on to serve as an assistant at UCLA and Baylor before taking over the head role at Eastern Illinois and Bowling Green.
He had success at both Eastern Illinois and Bowling Green, but his time at Syracuse — aside from a 10-3 season in 2018 — largely resulted in failure.
Brennan Marion — UNLV offensive coordinator
This one is a long shot, a near impossibility, but it cannot be ignored.
Marion, a Greensburg, Pa. native, spent the 2021 season as the Pitt offensive coordinator and was public with his desire to serve as the offensive coordinator following Mark Whipple’s departure in 2021. But Narduzzi went with Tim Salem in the Peach Bowl and Cignetti as the eventual hire.
Marion, 36, who had success with his Go-Go offense at William & Mary and Howard, before coming to Pitt as the wide receivers coach (and eventually Texas) has had a lot of success at UNLV.
Marion will likely be an in-demand Power Five offensive coordinator this season, if he doesn’t get hired by San Diego State as the head coach.
Joe Moorhead — Akron head coach
Moorhead is another Pittsburgh native who has spent time at Pitt in the past.
Moorhead, 50, currently serves as the head coach at Akron, but the Zips have gone 4-20 over the last two seasons in the MAC. So, it remains to be seen whether or not he’ll continue on the same path.
After serving as a graduate assistant at Pitt in 1998 and 1999, Moorhead spent a few years at Georgetown, a few years at Akron and a couple of years at UConn before being hired as the head coach at Fordham.
A successful two-year tenure at Penn State led to a head coaching opportunity at Mississippi State, but it lasted just two seasons — going 14-12 (7-9 SEC).
Dana Holgorsen — former Houston head coach
Houston fired Holgorsen, 52, today, and he adds an intriguing option to the coaching carousel.
Holgorsen was a candidate for the Pitt head coaching job in 2010, going as far as interviewing for the job, and it ultimately resulted in naught. And he would find his way to West Virginia as the head coach for eight seasons.
Holgorsen had spurts of success at both WVU and Houston, but his greatest success came during the years he spent as an offensive coordinator at Texas Tech, Houston and Oklahoma State.
Seth Littrell — Oklahoma Sooners offensive analyst
Littrell, 45, appears to be another longshot with Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby linked to Ole Miss, but he would be a solid addition.
Littrell has served as an offensive analyst at Oklahoma this season, following his dismissal from North Texas after seven seasons, and he’s 44-44 all-time as a head coach.
But he does have success as an offensive coordinator at Arizona, Indiana and North Carolina.
Others: Mack Leftwich (Texas State offensive coordinator), Sean Lewis (demoted Colorado Buffaloes offensive coordinator), Matt Canada (former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator)
Why would you consider Matt Canada
I know. Truth is Canada was pretty good as OC at PITT. We had some talent on offense and he put it to use. Don’t hate me but I think Coach Tomlin is part of the Steelers problem overall. But I’m hoping Narduzzi goes younger with this hire. NOT Mr. Babers, please.
Because he was the best OC in my memory (I’m old).
and stupid
Surprised tim cramsey,Kirk Campbell and frank pounce aren’t on the list. They seem to make sense. Moorehead would be the grand slam for me.
Kirk Campbell used to kick my behind in the wrestling room, lol. Good dude.
I just want someone with an offensive philosophy from this century.
Agreed. This year’s team was sloth like. And the false starts. I’m no stat guy but some many drive killing dumb penalties. The offense needs a lot of work.
Read the Marion blurb. More sloppy nonsense
How so? Just curious. Seems like fair reporting. Marion or Shanahan would be great picks.
He states that Marion was the OC and left because he wasn’t promoted to OC
RR is a Niter. He’s just an instigator. Couldn’t find a job in Happy Valley so he joined a long list of unsatisfied Niters in Pittsburgh.
Marion wouldn’t stay if he had success here. He’s hunting for a head coaching job somewhere then we would be starting from scratch again.
This time hire somebody based on their own merits, rather than their fathers’s accomplishments.
For the love of god, do not hire Babers, Cignetti or someone who coached or coaches at a school with lower level of competition.
Tim Lester former Western Michigan head-coach and prior OC experience might make sense.
How about the poor showing by the offensive line, missed tackles, and special teams.
The tackling was a season long issue.
If you were on the field all day you would miss tackles too. Blame the offence
Need to look at a new offensive line coach. The o-line has consistently regressed over the past few years
Thank you. And why the need to play these 5 and 6 year guys that never distinguished themselves? Go young. Especially after the season was basically lost. I think overall Narduzzi goes with “experience” versus actual talent too often.
True Duzzi was too loyal to seniors like C’bo who was 4th best RB on the roster
Other than 107k cheering fans, Terry Smith lures the best talent from western Pennsylvania to State College less the guys heading to Notre Dame.
Penn State. I always take Michigan and OSU and give points. It’s almost a guarantee.
Every year pays my Christmas bills lol
Babers? Why would you hire a guy that just got fired for YEARS of mediocrity?
Hell NO.
Good scapegoat move Heather and duzzi if you think that this is the only improvement this program needs prepare for an another disappointing season. I will put my last dollar on it.
It was an obvious need. The offense was poor. A new o line coach wouldn’t hurt my feelings. I’m leaving the defense alone.
A few names on that list look interesting but there are also some real duds.
Bruce Gradkowski is an option. Played HS FB in Pittsburgh area, College in Ohio, and was a back-up for Steelers. Has pro OC experience in XFL.
Why not bring Mark Whipple back? He’s proven he can coach an offense. So what if the Duzz doesn’t like his style, I’m sure he likes winning more than running the ball. He should have never been pushed out the door to begin with. Unless you have the 5-star players to play a run first offense, you’ll fail more often than not against equal or better competition playing the 1970’s offense. Defenses are too fast these days especially if they have high ranked players.
Narduzzi has a personal problem. He’s stuck being the Michigan State DC and thinks like that. Running game and November just are stuck in his psyche. Canada and Whipple both produced offenses that Narduzzi disliked. Can’t get that prime beef that Michigan/Harbaugh gets so a mobile offensive line is a must. Traps, sweeps, etc. anything to make the opponent move laterally. Biggest decision is get WV out of the beginning of the season. They tear up our players. Move WV to the last game of the season like all the other rivaly games. Better yet, drop them as soon as… Read more »
I can really understand why people threw rocks at you.
Narduzzi is a MAC Coach at best. Arrogant, no personality, horrible recruiter. Who would want to go to Pitt? Other than Partridge, horrible coaching staff that can’t recruit. It’s only going to get worse. This AD has helped destroy this program. She probably made him fire OC. Damage already done. Total housecleaning should have occurred.