Tag: Pat Narduzzi

MSU Athletic Department briefing Board of Trustees on head coaching search Monday

Michigan State Athletic Director Bill Beekman is meeting with the Board of Trustees to discuss the head coaching search Monday, Feb. 10.

Amidst a firestorm of rumors around the University of Cincinnati football head coach Luke Fickell, the Michigan State University Athletic Department will meet with the University’s Board of Trustees on Monday to brief them on the search. This was reported by Nick Mantas, reporter and anchor for WLNS, a Lansing TV station.

What isn’t a rumor is that Michigan State Athletic Director Bill Beekman was in Cincinnati this weekend. As of right now, Fickell is the clear top choice and the only name who has been brought up as an interviewee who has not publicly declined the role.

Colorado head coach Mel Tucker removed his name from consideration for the role on Saturday morning. San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh declined to interview, stating he had unfinished business in the NFL with San Francisco. Former MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi was a name that was initially floated for the role, but he quickly killed that rumor in hilarious fashion.

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Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi hilariously tried to ‘squash’ Michigan State rumors

Narduzzi said his phone was “blowing up” after Mark Dantonio retired.

While the news of Mark Dantonio retiring as Michigan State’s head coach shocked the college football world Tuesday, questions and rumors about his replacement immediately followed.

Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell is reportedly the frontrunner for the job — although he said Wednesday that he’s “talked to nobody” at Michigan State — but Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi’s name has also been in the mix. Narduzzi was the Spartans’ (incredibly successful) defensive coordinator for eight seasons under Dantonio, and it’s long been speculated that he’d return to East Lansing at some point in the future.

Well, Narduzzi attempted to silence any speculation about possibly plans to leave the Panthers during his National Signing Day press conference Wednesday and with this perfect video on Twitter from The Wolf of Wall Street.

During his NSD press conference — Pitt’s 2020 class is ranked No. 44, one spot behind the Spartans’ — Narduzzi said he had a feeling he’d get questions about taking over at Michigan State after his “phone was blowing up [Tuesday] night.” He explained he was as surprised as everyone else to hear about Dantonio’s sudden departure.

Narduzzi did, in fact, get several questions about leaving Pitt and repeatedly said he has no plans to go anywhere. He said, via ASAP Sports:

“Rumors are rumors. Speculation… I can’t tell you what’s going on in the outside world. I don’t know what’s happening up there. Obviously it’s fresh. …

“The rumor, squash them, whatever you want to call it. I got decisions to make, too. I’m here at Pitt. I want to be here at Pitt. That’s where I’m going to be.”

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