Christmas Eve Update > Multiple outlets are confirming that Narduzzi and Pitt have finalized the deal. Details to come on The Scoop.
Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi will be the new head coach at Pitt, barring any "eleventh-hour breakdown" according to a report from Sports Illustrated.
SI, as well as sources we've spoken with, both stress that it is not a done deal at this point; but we do expect this to get done.
Narduzzi has led some of the top defenses in the country the past few years for the Spartans, and has been a loyal assistant to Mark Dantonio for the past decade, starting at Cincinnati in 2004. Dating back to 2011, the Spartan defense has ranked 13th or better nationally in scoring defense, rank in the top ten in numerous major defensive categories and finished second in total defense last season. His performance last season, capped with a victory over Stanford in the Rose Bowl, earned him the 2013 FootballScoop Defensive Coordinator of the Year award. Narduzzi also took home the coveted Broyles Award last season that goes to the nation's top assistant coach in college football. Narduzzi was born in nearby Youngstown, OH and is more than familiar with the lay of land in the area surrounding Pitt. His coaching career has taken him from Miami (OH) as a grad assistant and receivers coach, to Rhode Island (LBs and DC), to Northern Illinois (LBs), back to Miami of Ohio (DC) and then to Cincinnati (DC) and Michigan State (DC). This will be his first opportunity to run his own program. Over the last few seasons, Narduzzi has been approached with numerous opportunities and it sounds like this one felt like the best fit for the longtime defensive coordinator. He will take over for Paul Chryst, who left for the Wisconsin job last week. Pitt went 19-19 in three seasons under Chyrst's leadership. Once word becomes official, Michigan will be the only FBS job that remains open. As always, stayed tuned to The Scoop for the latest developments.