It seems as though Charlie Partridge is linked to high-profile openings across college football every single offseason, usually down south in SEC country, and it’s proven true once again.
GatorsOnline, the Florida On3 site, listed Partridge as one of the Gators’ defensive line coach candidates alongside Texas A&M defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson and Louisville linebackers coach Mark Ivey.
And the Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Christopher Carter reported that there’s mutual interest between Partridge and Florida.
It’s come about as embattled Florida head coach Billy Napier fired co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Sean Spencer and secondary coach Corey Raymond following a 5-7 season in 2023. So, there is an opening down in the Sunshine State, which sometimes feels like a revolving door.
Partridge, who has served as the Pitt defensive line coach since 2017, adding associate head coach responsibilities in 2018, has turned down interest from Alabama and Miami in recent seasons. And as he’s been vocal in his love of Pittsburgh over the years, it appears unlikely that he will leave for a job that may not be guaranteed in another year.
It makes sense why Florida, or any program, would be interested in Partridge though. Aside from his work developing star defensive linemen at every stop in his collegiate journey, he’s also one of the most important recruiters on the Pitt coaching staff — especially in the state of Florida.
So, obviously, when an article from The Athletic’s Ari Wasserman from June compiled the top position coaches from across college football, he included Partridge as the defensive line coach.
Wasserman wrote:
“Viewed as one of the best defensive line coaches in the country, Partridge has a keen eye for talent and backs it up with developmental chops. He turned Calijah Kancey, a three-star prospect out of Miami, into a first-round NFL Draft pick, and that is the exact type of coach I’d want on my staff.”
It’s well known that Pitt leads college football in disruptive plays under Partridge’s tutelage, with 196 sacks (26 more than second-place Alabama) from 2019 through 2022, and it all starts up front. Pitt recorded 51 sacks (second place), 46 sacks (first place), 54 sacks (third place) and 48 sacks (first place) over the last four seasons, and through all of the turnover, it was a leading unit nationally.
It wasn’t as successful a season for the defensive line in 2023, recording just 31 sacks, but with a young core of talented defensive tackles and ends, there’s an expectation that the unit will rebound in 2024.
Partridge previously spent time at Pitt, in the early to mid-2000s, before he went on to success at Wisconsin, rising to associate head coach/defensive coordinator and followed Bret Bielema to Arkansas for one season in 2013. Following a three-year stint as the head coach of Florida Atlantic, Partridge returned to Pitt in 2017.
Since arriving back at Pitt, he has helped the likes of Rashad Weaver, Patrick Jones, Jaylen Twyman and Calijah Kancey reach All-American success in Pittsburgh.
In addition to Partridge’s status as one of the very best defensive line coaches in college football and one of the key recruiters on Pitt’s staff, he’s made lasting impacts on the lives of countless young men he’s coached over the years.
Partridge is a Plantation, FL guy. He’d be closer to home.
This would be a bigger loss than any player or other coach.
Narduzzi is destroying this program. Wait until the next couple seasons. Partridge is their only quality Coach and great recruiter. AD should have scene this coming. A lot of their donors is done with them. Need a younger aggressive Coaching Staff that can recruit and keep WPIAL kids home.