On Dec. 26, 2014, Pat Narduzzi was named head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh.

“There wasn't any doubt; I knew Pitt was the one,” Narduzzi says. “It's got everything. I think you've got the ability to do big things here. There couldn't have been a better fit.”

He comes to the Panthers from Michigan State, where he was defensive coordinator from 2007-14 and assistant head coach for the 2013-14 season, part of a staff that helped guide the Spartans to Top 25 finishes in five of the past seven seasons.

In 2013, Michigan State finished No. 3 in the country following a Big Ten title and 24-20 victory over No. 5 Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

Narduzzi, 49, completed his bachelor's degree in physical education at Rhode Island in 1990 and went on to earn a master's degree in sports studies at Miami of Ohio in 1992.

He and his wife, Donna, have four children — Arianna, Christina, Patrick and Isabella.

A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Narduzzi was an all-state performer at Youngstown's Ursuline High School.

He credits his late father, Bill Narduzzi, who was head coach at Youngstown State University from 1975-85, with instilling him with a passion for football.

Pitt will open its football season when it hosts Youngstown State at 1 p.m. Sept. 5 at Heinz Field.

Childhood hero:

My father, and he remains my hero to this day. He was a football coach who taught me about the importance of trust and respect in life.

The piece of memorabilia from my childhood I wish I still had:

My Ursuline High School football letterman's jacket

The superpower I wish I had in real life:

I'd love to be able to fly. Traveling would be much faster!

Favorite app:

USA Today

Favorite season:

What else? Fall means football!

Favorite ethnic food:

Anything Italian

I spend the most time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other:

Twitter

The song I want played at my funeral:

Frank Sinatra's “My Way”

My favorite cable channel:

ESPN

The dessert that matches my personality:

Apple pie

My favorite TV or movie villain:

The Joker

If I was auditioning for “American Idol,” my song would be:

AC/DC's “Back in Black”

My childhood nickname:

Little Duzzer

Three people I'd love to have dinner with:

The Pope, Colin Powell and Bill Belichick. (Imagine that conversation!)

Pick one: Pirates, Penguins, Steelers or other:

All of them! Pittsburgh is the greatest sports city in the world!

Best vacation ever:

Italy

Place I'd most like to visit:

Greece

Favorite guilty pleasure:

Chocolate

The first band I saw in concert:

I saw the Scorpions in Cleveland when I was a kid.

The best concert I've ever seen:

When we were at the Cotton Bowl last season, John Legend performed during the week. He put on a great show in a small venue.

My favorite Pittsburgh pizza:

Serafino's

My favorite Pittsburgh athlete:

I always loved the players on those 1970s Steelers teams. They embodied toughness.

Favorite lunchtime spot:

The majority of my lunches are spent in my office!

Pick one: Cheetos, Cheez-It or Cheerios:

Cheez-Its

Top thing on my bucket list:

Win a national championship at Pitt

I wish I had more time to:

Spend with family

My favorite thing about Pittsburgh:

Absolutely, the people

When I was 10, I wanted to be:

A football player

Happiness is:

Time spent with family

One word my mother would use to describe me:

Worker

If I could go back, I'd tell my teenage self:

To slow down

My first job:

Working at a beverage distributor in Youngstown

My worst job:

Working 12 hours a day with a jackhammer doing construction in New Jersey. It was tough and tiring but taught me a lot. I wouldn't trade the experience.

If I wasn't head coach of the Pitt football team, I'd be:

Working for the FBI

Favorite Pittsburgh-area landmark:

Pitt's Cathedral of Learning

My most memorable fashion mistake:

My wife prevents me from making any.

What you'll always find in my glove compartment:

My GPS

My favorite website:

CollegeFootballTalk.com

My personal motto is:

“Tell it like it is.”

The overused phrase I hate most:

“My bad”

People would be surprised to know that:

I was very quiet and shy growing up.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---