New to her job in 2017, Heather Lyke made a bold move when she extended Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi’s contract seven years through 2024 — only days after the conclusion of a 5-7 season.
Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that Pitt’s athletic director confirmed Tuesday that another extension for Narduzzi has been discussed.
“Pat and I will work on his arrangement and deal, and we are and we have. When we’re ready and able to share that, we absolutely will,” she said during a news conference where the university formally accepted the invitation to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
While winning two ACC Coastal Division titles and claiming the conference championship this season, Narduzzi has moved into fourth place among all-time Pitt coaches in total victories (53). He trails Jock Sutherland (111, 1924-1938), Pop Warner (60, 1915-1923) and John Michelosen (56, 1955-1965).
Narduzzi’s overall record is 53-36, including 36-22 in the ACC. Dating back to the latter part of the 2020 season, Pitt has won 10 of its past 12 conference games. He was hired as a first-time head coach after the 2014 season, replacing Paul Chryst, who left for Wisconsin after three seasons at Pitt.
Narduzzi is the longest-tenured Pitt coach since Walt Harris served from 1997-2004.
With one game left in his seventh season, Pitt (11-2 and No. 12 in the College Football Playoff rankings) has a chance to claim a 12th victory Dec. 30 by defeating Michigan State in the Peach Bowl. That has been done only once in Pitt history — 12-0 in the 1976 national championship season.
Lyke said the first contract extension worked out as she had hoped.
“It is what I believed we could do,” she said of winning the ACC championship. “There’s no question I had confidence they could make a good run this year. I’m not surprised one bit.”
