‘Adapting Together’: New Pitt Coach Looks to Elevate His Players

Why was Jacob Bronowski sitting in his Nashville hotel room watching Western Carolina film at 3 o’clock in the morning, the first “night” of the AFCA convention? Well, Bronowski, who was then the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at Miami (Oh.), had an opportunity before him. And he almost missed it.

Bronowski received a call from a number with a Jacksonville area code around 8:30 p.m. the evening before, and like any normal person, he thought it was a telemarketer. He didn’t answer it. But telemarketers don’t usually follow up with a text. And unless I’m mistaken, there isn’t a telemarketer in the U.S. who goes by the name Kade Bell.

He called Bell back immediately. And when Bell said that he’d like to meet with Bronowski the next morning, with Pat Narduzzi, to discuss a potential job opportunity, Bronowski didn’t waste any time.

He went back to his hotel room, loaded up PFF and spent the night studying Bell’s offense. It paid off. News first broke that Pitt was hiring Bronowski to fill the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator vacancies three days after the convention ended, and Narduzzi made the hire official on Jan. 18.

It’s been just about a month since Bronowski arrived at Pitt, and since his family is still back in Oxford, Ohio, he’s been taking advantage of the opportunity to work those long hours he might not be able to otherwise. It’s why he spent the whole day at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Valentine’s Day.

Bronowski has been staying at the Hotel Indigo, less than a mile from the Pitt facilities, but he’s spent a lot of his time on the road since arriving in Pittsburgh. He can finally make that 0.7-mile drive to the South Side facility, considering both Signing Days have come and gone, and he’s excited about the challenges facing his units.

He experienced a lot of success during his two seasons at Miami (Oh.), and he was recently named to the 247Sports’ 30 Under 30 list — earning 247Sports’ Special Teams Coordinator of the Year. Miami (Oh.) was rated as the top special teams unit by ESPN’s SP+, and BlackHawks kicker Graham Nicholson won the Lou Groza Award for the top kicker in college football last season. He credits all his success to his players.

“Success is always gonna be the players, right?” Bronowski said. “Like when good things happen, I’m gonna point the finger at all those guys. When bad things happen, it’s gonna be me, right? I said that to those guys this morning. It’s our first special teams meeting, it’s like Christmas around here. I know it’s Valentine’s Day, but it’s Christmas.

“So, for me, it’s all about the players. The places I’ve been, the players I’ve bought in, like yes, there is a structure and a process. And I do believe extremely in what we do on special teams and how we go about those things.

“But at the day, it’s about putting those guys no different than our offense, putting them in positions to go succeed. Identify those guys, and then put them in positions to succeed. And that’s what ultimately has led to the, the high level of success that I’ve been fortunate enough to have in my career.”

There’s a major piece returning in the tight ends room. Gavin Bartholomew isn’t a secret, but it’s almost as if there’s been a secret way to utilize him that Frank Cignetti Jr. never figured out.

Bronowski has watched all of Bartholomew’s film. He sees the talent — the ball skills, the athleticism and the game-breaking ability. He’s challenged Bartholomew to be the same dude day in and day out. There’s an opportunity for him.

“Now for (Bartholomew) the challenge is, can you be that consistent pillar in everything that you’re doing, right?” Bronowski said. “And let that be contagious to those around you. Because we got a lot of youth, you look at that wide receiver room, there’s a lot of youth in there. So, he’s got a lot of hats to wear, but I think that ultimately is going to benefit him because now he’s going to be able to really take that next jump and get back to where he was and even more.”

But it’s also not just Bartholomew. Bronowski has high praise for the room as a whole.

Jake Renda: unbelievably athletic and his intent to get better is unlike anything he’s ever seen.

Jake Overman: thumper type and completely bought into his role in the offense.

Renda is in the facility at 9:30 p.m. He’s coming in at 9:30 p.m., and he’s studying film. It’s been a long time since Bronowski has watched a player use note cards, but that’s exactly what Renda has done. He’s studying concepts, routes, all of it. It’s allowed him to jump ahead of the curve.

Overman was brought in from Oregon State for his blocking prowess, but he’s making improvements in the passing game, working with Michael Stacchiotti and the strength staff and getting more mobile. It’s a room that will likely feature Bartholomew, Renda and Overman.

It will be an adjustment for the tight ends as a unit this season. There will not be nearly as many two tight end sets. It’s a brand-new system that will be installed over the course of the spring. And Bronowski likes to look at it as adapting together.

“I think it’s tremendously beneficial for us,” Bronowski said. “Because like I told our guys, brutal honesty as a coach is first and foremost. So, I was very honest with our guys from the jump to tight end saying, ‘Hey look, guys, I’m in this thing the same as you guys are.’ I think that’s an awesome opportunity to show some vulnerability as a coach — to let those guys know that we are in this together.

“You know, I’m going to screw up as a coach, I’m going to tell you the wrong thing. That’s okay, we’re going to move on. We’re never going to get beat twice, we’re going to constantly get better day by day.”

Pittsburgh Panthers place kicker Ben Sauls (90) September 9, 2023 David Hague/PSN

That mentality doesn’t just apply to the tight ends either. Of course, Bronowski is tasked with turning around a special teams unit that has been a problem for two seasons now. Ben Sauls isn’t a problem. Bronowski views him as a leader — team-wide. It’s been the punting team that has plagued the Panthers over the last two seasons.

Pitt has used three punters over the last two seasons. And while it looked like Caleb Junko, who was placed on scholarship just before the start of the 2023 season, was the answer, his play deteriorated over the course of the season. He was a liability, simply put. The special teams unit was a liability.

Bronowski ran a tight ship at Miami (Oh.). The RedHawks were renowned as one of the best special teams units in the country, and it was because of the players, of course. But also, because he helped place his players into the best possible positions.

Junko served as the Pitt punter last season, and while he has a huge leg, his inconsistency hampered the team. Bronowski wants to be able to help place Junko in the best possible situation to foster that level of consistency needed to thrive at the collegiate level.

“Like, you guys are elite specialists, right?” Bronowski said. “There’s a reason this job is so appealing, not just from the tight end side of things, but because of the specialist students. Junko is as talented as can be. His leg speed is tremendously gifted. So, as his coach, I’m juiced up about that. If I’m not, then I’m cheating him. I’m excited, so now it’s pouring into him to make him realize, ‘Hey. You are a dude at what you do. You’re one of the best in the world at what you do.’ So, let’s go out there and do that every single time on the field.”

So, when it comes to both the tight ends and the specialists, there’s no magical overnight fix. Bronowski feels like he has elite-level talent alongside him. It’s about narrowing down the inconsistencies and working deliberately day by day to fix those bad habits.