Pitt Offensive Coordinator Search Down To 3 Candidates

More so than the transfer portal, the vacant offensive coordinator position at Pitt is the top subject on the minds of most Pitt fans.

Many thought and even speculated that Pat Narduzzi would move quickly to replace Frank Cignetti, Jr. but that obviously has not happened.

However, all signs point toward that position being filled within a week.

Over the last few days, Narduzzi has really zeroed in on candidates. In fact, PSN is led to believe that this past Sunday, Narduzzi met or spoke with 4 to 5 candidates. From those conversations and ones in the past, we’re told that he’s in the final stages of this important decision and is now focused on 3 candidates.

Pittsburgh Sports Now has the names of 2 of the 3 candidates.

Bryan McClendon, Georgia Wide Receivers Coach. 

McClendon is in his second stint at Georgia, serving as the wide receivers coach and passing coordinator for the Bulldogs over the past two seasons, which is also where he played college ball.

He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Georgia in 2007, working his way onto the staff as the running backs coach before being reassigned as the wide receivers job. He served as the assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator, in addition to his wide receivers’ duties, in the 2015 season — even coaching the TaxSlayer Bowl as the interim head coach.

McClendon has served as an offensive coordinator at one stop along his coaching career, calling plays for South Carolina in 2018 and 2019. The 2018 season was a success, averaging 30.1 points per game and racking up 426.2 yards per game with Jake Bentley under center — in the best season of his lengthy college career.

The 2019 season wasn’t nearly as successful as the Gamecocks as injuries and inconsistent play led to McClendon being demoted as the offensive coordinator — but retaining his wide receivers coach role — at the conclusion of the 2019 season.

He did not stay at South Carolina though, instead taking a position on Mario Cristobal’s staff at Oregon as the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. He spent two seasons with the Ducks, once again serving as the interim coach in a bowl game as Cristobal left for Miami. McClendon was hired by Cristobal at Miami, set to serve as the co-offensive coordinator, but never coached a game at Miami after he swapped back to Georgia instead.

McClendon hasn’t had a ton of success at the coordinator level, only two seasons calling plays under his belt, but the 2018 season at South Carolina was successful. And it’s clear McClendon is the type of coach who has built strong bonds with his players at every stop. And he’s an ace recruiter — serving as the primary recruiter for the likes of Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, Todd Gurley and many others.

Mack Leftwich, Texas State Offensive Coordinator.

If the name sounds familiar, it should. Leftwich was an outstanding quarterback at North Allegheny High School, after transferring in his junior season from the state of Texas. As a senior, he was named the Pennsylvania Player of the Year, after completing 177-of-268 passes for 3,331 yards and 45 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions.

Following high school, Leftwich went on to play college football at UTEP before having his career shortened by a serious shoulder injury.

Leftwich immediately got into coaching, which has proven to be an outstanding decision. After serving as graduate assistant at the University of Incarnate World, he was promoted to quarterbacks coach after just one season. Leftwich recruited and worked with future Jerry Rice Award-winning quarterback Cameron Ward. Leftwich had an opportunity to join the Washington State staff but stayed with Incarnate World and promoted to offensive coordinator, where his offenses were as productive as any in college football.

In his first season, Incarnate World averaged 52 points and 581 yards per game and led all FCS schools in scoring. Leftwich was also instrumental in the development of quarterback Lindsey Scott, Jr., who won the Walter Payton Award, which is considered the FCS Heisman Trophy.

That success led to Leftwich being offered the offensive coordinator’s position at Texas State University and productivity on the field continued. In 2022, Leftwich averaged 51.5 points and 580 yards of total offense, while winning the Southland Conference championship reaching the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs.

The 29-year-old Leftwich was nominated for the Broyles Award in 2022, which is given to the top assistant in college football. He’s viewed by man in the industry as one of the best young offensive minds in college football.

This past season, Texas State averaged 32.5 points per game and earned an invitation to play in the Servpro First Responder Bowl on December 26 against Rice.

Leftwich’s offensive system is a high-powered RPO attack made for dual-threat quarterbacks.

Pittsburgh Sports Now has not yet been able to confirm the name of the third finalist. We would not surprised if a candidate was hired sometime between today and Monday.