<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0oIvRq_0wB71PGF00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0oIvRq_0wB71PGF00" width="2048" height="1365" ></figure>Pat Narduzzi narrowly missed out on the Bobby Dodd Trophy in 2022, but he may have a chance to bring it home this season.Narduzzi is one of the 20 coaches named to the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Trophy watchlist, an honor awarded annually to the coach who enjoys success on the football field while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity.The award takes a program’s graduation rate, commitment to service and charity in the community, projected success for the season and Academic Progress Rate into consideration.It’s the second Coach of the Year watchlist that Narduzzi has been named to this week, along with the Bear Bryant Award watchlist.Narduzzi is in his 10th season at the helm of Pitt football, and after the worst season of his tenure in Pittsburgh, he’s rebounded with the best start of his career. Pitt is 6-0 for the first time since 1982 and ranked inside the AP Poll. But he doesn’t care about awards or rankings or anything of the sort.“Didn’t talk about (being ranked) last night at all,” Narduzzi said last week. “But Tuesday just talk about like, hey, refocus; doesn’t matter what we’ve done in the past. That’s just the name of the game. That’s what I’ve done forever. And I don’t care the ranking. I don’t care the preseason ranking. The only ranking we’ll brag about is what our postseason ranking is and trying to win a championship. Those are the rankings you worry about.“Right now, midseason, if you get too caught up, look at us, we’re ranked, good luck to you.”Narduzzi needed a spark after last season, and more importantly, he needed to embrace the modern age of college football. So, he did so. It can be difficult sometimes for a long-term coach to make a change from what he’s been doing, but the changes Narduzzi made during the offseason have led to major success — and set the Panthers up for more.Pat Narduzzi is 71-50 (45-31) in his nine-and-a-half seasons in Pittsburgh, and the Panthers are receiving College Football Playoff buzz in the midst of the best start to a season since the early 80s. Narduzzi has set the Panthers up for further success.He signed a long-term deal with Pitt in March of 2022, extending his contract through the 2030 season.</div></body>

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Pat Narduzzi Named to Another Coach of the Year Watchlist

Pat Narduzzi narrowly missed out on the Bobby Dodd Trophy in 2022, but he may have a chance to bring it home this season. Narduzzi is one of the 20 coaches named to the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Trophy watchlist, an honor awarded annually to the coach who enjoys success on the football field while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity.