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Report: Former Pitt Assistant Takes New Defensive Coordinator Job

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Former Pitt coach Rob Harley

Rob Harley got his big break at Pitt in the late-2010s, serving as the first linebackers coach of the Pat Narduzzi era, and he’s come a long way since then.

Harley, 42, has spent the last four seasons as the Arkansas State assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, but according to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, he’s expected to be hired as the Northern Illinois defensive coordinator.

It was a tough season for Arkansas State defensively, allowing 32.2 points and a Sun Belt-high 462.1 yards per game. The Red Wolves won eight games, but it wasn’t because of the defense.

The Red Wolves were a bit stronger on defense in 2023, allowing 31.2 points and 445.5 points per game, and Harley’s unit was an aggressive, opportunistic unit that generated pressure and forced turnovers.

Northern Illinois is coming off an 8-5 season, headlined by an upset of Notre Dame, and it’s the final season of the Huskies playing in the MAC.

Harley spent six seasons at Pitt as the linebackers coach, serving as the recruiting coordinator for the final four seasons. He was previously an assistant at FIU, Michigan State and Ohio Dominican.

He helped with the development of former Pitt linebackers Kylan Johnson, Phil Campbell, Cam Bright and SirVocea Dennis — and served an integral role in the recruiting department.

Pitt hired former Cinncinati assistant coach Ryan Manalac to fill the void left behind by Harley in 2021, and the investment has paid off over the last couple of seasons.

The linebacking corps is one of the strongest units on the team, with Kyle Louis (All-American), Rasheem Biles (All-ACC) and Braylan Lovelace set to return next season. It’s a unit that’s built for the present — and the future. He’s been one of the best recruiters on the staff in recent seasons.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker

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