Pitt football overhauls offensive coaching staff, severs ties with 3 assistants

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi almost completely overhauled his offensive staff Friday night, parting ways with veteran assistant coaches Tim Salem (tight ends), Andre Powell (running backs and special teams) and Dave Borbely (offensive line).

The moves surfaced six weeks after Narduzzi began dismantling the offensive staff, firing offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr., 58, the day after the last game of the season.

All four of the dismissed coaches are 57 or older. The only offensive coach who will return in 2024 is wide receivers assistant Tiquan Underwood, 36, who will work with new offensive coordinator Kade Bell, 30. Bell’s offense is expected to feature more elements of quick snaps and fast tempo than what Pitt has used in nine previous seasons under Narduzzi.

Change was inevitable on offense after the Panthers finished 3-9 in 2023 and were last in the ACC in average points (20.2) and yards (317.9) per game.

Letting go of Salem and Powell marks the end of an era for Pitt’s coaching staff. They were the last remaining assistants from Narduzzi’s initial on-field staff he assembled upon his hiring before the 2015 season.

“I want to express my gratitude to Dave, Andre and Tim for their work and commitment throughout their tenures with Pitt football. On behalf of our entire program, I wish them the very best personally and professionally,” Narduzzi said in a statement.

Salem, 62, was one of Pitt’s hardest-working assistants, often going straight to his office — before he went home — when the team returned from a road game. He also was a successful recruiter, counting quarterback Kenny Pickett among the players he helped lure to Pitt.

But Pitt’s tight ends have not been especially productive in recent seasons, with Gavin Bartholomew catching only 18 passes for 326 yards this season.

Salem has been a college assistant throughout his coaching career, including time as offensive coordinator at UCF, Eastern Michigan and Purdue. He also has coached special teams, running backs, quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends at Illinois, Ohio State, Colorado State, Phoenix College and Arizona State.

Powell, 57, had the dual role of coaching two position groups, running backs, plus kickers, punters, coverage units and returners. Pitt running backs James Conner, Darren Hall, Izzy Abanikanda and Qadree Ollison recorded 1,000-yard seasons under Powell. He also mentored three of the top four point producers in Pitt history, kickers Chris Blewitt (363) and Alex Kessman (341) and Conner (338).

His coaching career began in 1988 at his alma mater, Indiana, and he also worked at South Carolina, Army, VMI, Rhode Island, Virginia, North Carolina, Clemson and Maryland.

Hired in 2018, Borbely, 64, has coached two NFL draft picks at Pitt, center Jimmy Morrissey and tackle Carter Warren. A total of 17 linemen who served under Borbely earned All-ACC recognition. Over the past two seasons, injuries forced Borbely to cobble together almost 20 different player combinations across the offensive line.

Borbely began his coaching career in 1981 at Evansville and has worked at 15 schools.