Ranking the top ten defensive coaches in college football
The longtime defensive coordinator for Mark Dantonio at Michigan State, Pat Narduzzi finally became a head coach when he replaced Paul Chryst at Pittsburgh following the 2014 season.
At Pitt, Narduzzi will attempt to build the Panthers into a tough-minded, defensive football team similar to those he helped direct in East Lansing. In fact, Narduzzi’s Spartan units were some of the best in the nation – the only defense in the country to ranke in the top ten nationally in both rushing defense and total defense in four consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2014.
Michigan State had the nation’s best rush defense in 2014. Teams gained just 88.5 yards per game on the ground against the Spartans last year, which was six yards better than the nation’s No. 2 squad, Boston College and 12 yards ahead of third place Penn State. Overall, opponents gained just 315.8 total yards on average, which was the eighth fewest against any defense in the country.
Last season the Spartans forced 34 turnovers in 13 games, which was the third most in the nation. Michigan State intercepted 18 passes and recovered 16 fumbles. The Spartans also got to the quarterback regularly and finished in the top nation’s ten with 42 sacks and 3.23 sacks per game.
In eight seasons as the defensive coordinator at Michigan State, Narduzzi coached four first team All-Americans and 19 that were selected to the first team All-Big Ten squad. He helped the Spartans to a share of the conference championship in 2010, an outright title in 2013 and a spot in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1988.
Prior to his stint at Michigan State, Narduzzi was Dantonio’s defensive coordinator at Cincinnati from 2004-06. In 2003, Narduzzi was the DC for the Miami (Ohio) team that finished 13-1, won the MAC and finished the season ranked 10th in the AP Top 25.
Now a head coach, Narduzzi will still be very involved with the Panthers defense, along with his new defensive coordinator Josh Conklin.
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