Former Pitt Assistant Takes Coordinator Job in Big Ten

Andre Powell spent the 2024 season at the Group of Five level, but he’s coming back to Power Four ball in 2025.

Maryland head coach Michael Locksley announced that Powell has joined the Terrapins’ coaching staff as the special teams coordinator, a position he held from 2012-14 — along with running backs coach.

Powell spent nine seasons at Pitt, joining the inaugural Pat Narduzzi coaching staff in 2015. He spent all nine seasons at the special teams coordinator and running backs coach. He was dismissed following the 2023 season and spent last season at ECU.

Powell came under fire during the 2023 season for his running back usage, splitting carries to a fault, and the special teams unit — the punting unit, especially — was a disaster over the last two seasons. Despite some success during his tenure, it was time for a change to be made at both positions.

Powell has also coached at Maryland, Clemson, North Carolina, Virginia, Rhode Island, VMI, Army, South Carolina and Indiana in a coaching career dating back to the late 1980s.

Powell, along with former tight ends coach Tim Salem, were two of the longest-tenured staffers on Narduzzi’s staff.

Pitt, on the other hand, is entering the second season of the Jacob Bronowski era at special teams coordinator. And it was undoubtedly an improvement upon the 2023 season.

Ben Sauls was one of the best kickers in college football, Caleb Junko made improvements at punter and the coverage teams performed better, But there’s still room for improvement.