Narduzzi’s lessons from father include ‘toughness’ and rosary
Pat Narduzzi said he learned much about the coaching profession from his father, Bill, including “a mind for football … toughness … and the ability to communicate and relate to players.”
Those are important, if nonspecific, traits and skills every coach needs. But while sitting down with veteran ACC Network broadcaster Wes Durham, Pitt’s coach said there is one specific item that his father, a former head coach at Youngstown State, carried into every game.
And Narduzzi said he won’t walk a sideline without it.
“My dad always had a pocket rosary in his hand or in his pocket,” he said. “I got that with me on game day. My daughters and my wife make sure I got one of those available in case I lose one because I’m susceptible to losing things.
“I got extras. You see me unzip (his briefcase), you’ll see a bunch of them fall out. I have to have one.”
Narduzzi, 58, said he regrets not being in the coaching profession with his father, who died in 1988 at the age of 51.
“I wish he lived past age 51, so I could really watch what he did,” he said. “I saw it from the yard. I saw it from the kitchen table. I saw it from my freshman year playing linebacker (at Youngstown State).”
Narduzzi, whose contract runs through 2030, is approaching his 10th season as Pitt’s coach, a longer tenure than all but two of his predecessors: Jock Sutherland (1924-1938) and John Michelosen (1955-1965).
Asked by Durham to explain his longevity at Pitt, Narduzzi said, “Because I’m loyal, and I think they were looking for some loyalty.”
“Pitt had a string of how many different head coaches through the years. The last time they were consistent is when they had the great Dave Wannstedt as the head coach (2005-10). When Dave left until I got here and spent nine seasons, going on No. 10 this year, they haven’t had continuity at the head coaching position. I think we got that now.
“They wanted a guy who was going to be loyal, who wasn’t looking to have an agent and get an agent to get his name out there for every job that opens up. I’m not that kind of guy.
“Last year didn’t go like we wanted it to, but we’ll find out what happens in ’24.”
The upcoming season will be a telling one for Narduzzi and the Pitt program because he totally overhauled the offensive coaching staff, firing two assistants who had been with him since 2015. He hired offensive coordinator Kade Bell, 31, to replace veteran play-caller Frank Cignetti.
“I got a good feel for coaches,” Narduzzi said. “There is no age discrimination, old or young. It doesn’t really matter. I can hire a 55-year-old coach, or I can hire a young coach. I want to learn from these old guys. I want to learn from these young guys. We can all learn something, regardless of age.”
Narduzzi understands the college game has changed, perhaps even becoming unstable for some coaches. He offered a serious warning when Durham asked what he would tell “first-year coach Pat Narduzzi” about the coaching profession.
“I would tell him, ‘Beware, be careful, take care of your family.’ ”
