Former Pitt OC Frank Cignetti Jr. Staying in Western PA

Frank Cignetti Jr. has returned to a place near and dear to his heart.

Indiana (Pa.) announced Tuesday that Cignetti is returning to serve as its newest offensive coordinator, over 25 years since he first served as the RedHawks’ offensive coordinator. Cignetti took a year off coaching following his dismissal from the Panthers at the end of the 2023 season.

Cignetti, after spending a year at Pitt as a graduate assistant in 1989, received his start at IUP in 1990. He started as the wide receivers coach, spent time at defensive backs coach and was elevated to quarterbacks and offensive coordinator.

“I am excited to return to Indiana University of Pennsylvania as the offensive coordinator, a place that holds great meaning for both me and my wife, Ellen. I give thanks to Coach Tortorella for the opportunity to come back to the program that gave so much to me as both a player and coach,” Cignetti said in the IUP release.

We are excited to announce the return of Frank Cignetti Jr. as our offensive coordinator!

📝| https://t.co/lexITbzy5c#ALLIN pic.twitter.com/YseuE2a9AX

— IUP Football (@IUPfootball) February 18, 2025

Pitt let Cignetti go following a season-ending loss to Duke at the end of the 2023 season, following two seasons in charge of the offense.

“I want to thank Frank for his service and dedication to our football program the past two years,” Pat Narduzzi said in the press release. “We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

Cignetti took over as the Pitt offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in the wake of former OC/QB Coach Mark Whipple exiting for Nebraska following the ACC title game in 2021, and it’s safe to say that Cignetti’s third tenure at Pitt wasn’t all that successful.

After leading the ACC with 41.4 points per game in 2021, under Whipple’s leadership, Pitt fell to 31.3 points per game in 2022 and 20.2 pointers per game in 2023 — halving total points per game in just two seasons.

It was a tough final season. Pitt finished 3-9 (2-6 ACC) and it was easily the worst season of the Narduzzi era in Pittsburgh. But there was one area that has held back the team more than any other.

Pitt finished 114th in points per game (20.2) and 113th in total offense (317.9) in college football, and both of those stats rank amongst the lowest Power Five programs in the country. The passing offense was a disaster, with a handful of quarterbacks trying to run the offense, and the run game was non-existent for large stretches of the season.