Frank Cignetti Jr. will not return to Pitt as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2024.
Following a 30-19 loss to Duke in the 2023 season finale, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi announced Sunday afternoon that Cignetti will not return as the offensive coordinator next season.
“I want to thank Frank for his service and dedication to our football program the past two years,” Pat Narduzzi said in the press release. “We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”
Cignetti took over as the Pitt offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in the wake of former OC/QB Coach Mark Whipple exiting for Nebraska following the ACC title game in 2021, and it’s safe to say that Cignetti’s third tenure at Pitt has been unsuccessful.
After leading the ACC with 41.4 points per game in 2021, under Whipple’s leadership, Pitt fell to 31.3 points per game in 2022 and 20.2 pointers per game in 2023 — halving total points per game in just two seasons.
It was a tough season. Pitt finished 3-9 (2-6 ACC) and it was easily the worst season of the Narduzzi era in Pittsburgh. But there was one area that has held back the team more than any other.
Pitt finished 114th in points per game (20.2) and 113th in total offense (317.9) in college football, and both of those stats rank amongst the lowest Power Five programs in the country. The passing offense was a disaster, with a handful of quarterbacks trying to run the offense, and the run game was non-existent for large stretches of the season.
Pitt failed to capitalize on the success built by the 2021 ACC title, and despite an All-American campaign from Izzy Abanikanda in 2022, it was largely because Cignetti’s offense was unable to function as a cohesive unit.
While Narduzzi said after the Duke loss that Pitt would “digest” the loss before making any coaching changes this season, it’s clear that Narduzzi recognized that Pitt wasn’t good enough offensively.
“We’re going to look at that, and find out what it is,” Narduzzi said. “Obviously, we’ve got to score more points and we’ve got to convert in the red zone and find out what we’ve got to do. But we’ve definitely going to score more points. That’s a fact.”
The next hire that Narduzzi makes will be a very important one, as Narduzzi likes to be hands-off with his offensive personnel and let the offensive coordinator handle all of the day-to-day duties.
Reading this news, I think that I just let out the largest cheer for Pitt football this year!! A relevant excerpt from a post I made minutes ago: Yarnell — and Pitt overall, would have accomplished much more if not for the (once again) horrible play-calling. Duke made it known early on that they were going to shut down the running game but yet, Cignetti kept calling for consistently go-nowhere running plays. The myriad of QB sneak calls exposed an OC that had no idea as to what to do (not to mention exponentially raising the risk of injuring your… Read more »
What took so long?
When a naked quarterback keeper is your go-to play, you’ve got issues!
It means absolutely nothing… if he doesn’t make a today’s offense hire… and he should question the defensive coordinator too
Salem should also be fired and they need a top notch recruiting coordinator
Absolutely, the OC is not the only issue in this program. Any body who thinks that it’s just the OC is delusional, or lack football IQ.
Duzz is now on the clock
Cignetti should be gone, but what changes? Here is Narduzzi’s track record … Narduzzi’s original staff Jim Chaney (OC) 2015 offseason Jim Chaney -> Matt Canada 2016 offseason Matt Canada -> Shawn Watson 2018 offseason Shawn Watson -> Mark Whipple 2022 offseason Mark Whipple -> Frank Cignetti 2024 offseason Now Frank Cignetti out My question is this, can Pat Narduzzi actually pick an offensive coordinator. Should Heather Lyke or some other person head the search for the next coordinator? If Narduzzi would not have done his typical trash talk and burn bridges Brennan Marion would look like a great replacement.… Read more »
So no responsibility on the players part.. only saw one coach tackle in my lifetime
I understand what you are saying but I have been rethinking some opinions since we were manhandled by Notre Dame. Notre Dame’s O-line was a group of high four star recruits with two of them having a NFL lineage (one being a former Pitt star), and the same with the backup O-lineman. We do not. The only position we consistently recruit four star players is D-line. The is a reflection of Partridge. If he can recruit 4-star D-lineman we should expect the same from Borbely on the O-line. If you want to win consistently then you need better players which… Read more »
The whole staff should be blown out. He’s trying to get a jump on OC’s and this is crucial to keep any recruits. Let’s see
The Oline has been disappointing despite them telling us how deep they are, I would say this year proved that was a lie. Borbely keeps sliding on thru. Nard isn’t going yet that contract is too much for Pitt to pay off. Here’s hoping he accepts that adjusting to the reality of college football is more important than living out your dream of an old school between the tackles 3 yards and a cloud of dust offense.
Does the AD have Matt Canada’s phone number ?
We had a terrific offense in 2016.
Coach Narduzzi –> Coach Duzz –> Coach No Duh
He was always seen eating snacks and drinking diet soda with Narduzzi in a golf cart. He will have more time for that now.
If Borbs is not fired as well, is irrelevant
The biggest problem with this program is spelled Narduzzi.
2nd most coaching wins all time at Pitt