LOVE-it’s what keeps Pat Narduzzi going

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Love, it’s what keeps Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi going and why he’s excited not only about the 2026 season, but starting his 13^th year in Pittsburgh.

“I love what I’m doing. I love where I’m at. I love Pittsburgh. I love the fans here. I love the Panther Pitt. I can’t wait to see the band.”

“I’m a Pitt man.”

Only Jock Sutherland has coached more games at Pitt and but by Week 3, Narduzzi will pass the Hall of Famer with 144 games.

It works, according to Narduzzi, because he, Athletic Director Allen Greene and Chancellor Joan Gabel are all moving in the same direction.

“We have the chance to win a championship every year,” Narduzzi said. “That is something our kids in here believe and something we will continue to believe in.”

There is so much going on with the sport it seems like week-to-week there is something new, most recently, its players returning from NFL camps to play again in college to take advantage of a fifth year of eligibility.

“I want to coach football, I don’t worry about that stuff,” Narduzzi said. “The rules change every day. One minute the SEC says this, the next minute the SEC is on its knees.”

Some of the best coaches in college football and basketball retired or took jobs in the NFL because of all of the chaos.

“That’s why I stay out of that and I just worry about coaching football,” Narduzzi said. “That doesn’t change, there’s still 11 guys on the field offensively, defensively and on every special teams. We worry about taking care of what we control. We can’t control some of the craziness out there.”

Expectations internally are high with sophomore offensive stars Mason Heintschel and Ja’Kyrian Turner returning, a senior-laden offensive line and typically good defensive depth. It starts Saturday against Miami University (Ohio) at 12:30p on 93.7 The Fan.

And it returned to a familiar word you might not expect from a life-long, intense football coach.

“It is about love,” Narduzzi said. “You love the game of football. You love coaching these young men every day, that’s the fun part. All that stuff, I’ll let other people worry about that, and I’ll just coach football.”