PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – For the first time since 2018, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi will be searching for a new defensive coordinator as Randy Bates announced Friday he will retire.
“I want to start by thanking my family: my wife, Tracey, and my three daughters, Samantha, Alexandra and Olivia,” said Bates. “Without their support, patience and love, I never would have been able to make it through all these years. They’ve been my foundation at every stop along the way, and I’m eternally grateful for everything they sacrificed for me.”
“I could also go on forever about the many mentors who helped shape me both personally and professionally. I thank each of them for their guidance and generosity over the years. I couldn’t have made it here without them.”
“Finally, I want to thank the University of Pittsburgh, my fellow coaches and every player who wore the Pitt Script on his helmet. I am especially grateful for Coach Pat Narduzzi for his trust, leadership and friendship. He gave me the professional opportunity of a lifetime, and working at Pitt has been one of the great privileges of my career.”
“Pitt is special because of its people, and I will forever be proud of what we accomplished together.”
“Randy Bates is everything you want in a coach, leader and man,” said Narduzzi in a statement from the team. “He’s an elite football mind, but more importantly, he’s a tremendous teacher and mentor who made a lasting impact on our players and staff. I’m grateful for everything he’s done for Pitt Football and proud to celebrate him as he closes out this chapter. On behalf of our program, I want to wish him, his wife Tracey, and their beautiful family, nothing but the best.”
Awarded the 2020 Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association, Bates has coached four first-team All-Americans at Pitt--linebacker Kyle Louis, tackle Calijah Kancey, ends Rashad Weaver and Patrick Jones.
Along with the University of Pittsburgh, he coached 12 years at Northwestern and previously with Louisiana Tech, Kent State, New Hampshire, Navy, St. Joseph’s (Indiana), Miami (Ohio) and Muskingum. An Ohio State alumnus, Bates is also a retired US Navy lieutenant.