Cross Mike Shanahan off as a possible candidate for Pitt’s vacant offensive coordinator’s position.
Matt Zenitz from 247 Sports is reporting that new Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti is expected to bring Shanahan along with him to serve as offensive coordinator, the same role he had the last two seasons at James Madison. Zenitz also says that Cignetti plans on hiring Tino Sunseri as Indiana quarterback’s coach.
Although Shanahan is a name that’s been mentioned by Pitt fans and local media, there have been no indication thus far that he was someone that Pat Narduzzi planned on speaking with. To be clear though, all names being mentioned at this point are just speculation as Narduzzi is keeping all information on this search very tight.
Shanahan, 33, got his start under Cignetti as a wide receivers coach at Indiana (Pa.) in 2016. He went with Cignetti to Elon in 2017 and then to JMU in 2019.
He retained his role as wide receivers coach at JMU, eventually gaining the recruiting coordinator title, before he was elevated to offensive coordinator — in addition to his duties as wide receivers coach — before the 2021 season. He went to Cignetti to ask for more. And it paid off.
As JMU has made the jump to the FBS level, the Dukes have remained one of the top offenses in the Sun Belt.
Shanahan’s offenses have centered around a couple of high-profile transfer quarterbacks, but his propensity for running the football has unlocked two offenses that have not missed a beat in the transition from the FCS to the FBS.
The Dukes have averaged just about 165 rushing yards per game over the last two seasons, and in a feat that the previous Pitt offensive coordinator was unable to accomplish, he’s established a rushing attack that actually opens up opportunities through the air by spreading out opposing defenses.
JMU ran an aggressive, mauling offense under Shanahan, one that has pushed teams around in the Sun Belt (to the tune of a 19-4 record over the last two seasons), but he’s had success with two different quarterbacks. It’s all because he’s adapted to the modern college game.
