As Pitt’s offseason approaches, coach Pat Narduzzi will have a major hire to make, as the eight-year tenure of defensive coordinator Randy Bates has reached a conclusion.
Bates, 65, announced he’ll be retiring from coaching after Pitt’s Military Bowl appearance Saturday against East Carolina.
Overseeing Pitt’s defense since 2018, Bates’ coaching career dates to 1982, when he got his start at Muskingum University in Ohio.
“I want to start by thanking my family: my wife, Tracey, and my three daughters, Samantha, Alexandra and Olivia,” Bates said in a statement. “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.”
While Narduzzi has experienced significant turnover at offensive coordinator since arriving at Pitt in 2015, as well as other staff defections and departures, Bates had been a stalwart in charge of the defense.
Stopping the run in particular has been the calling card of Bates’ and Narduzzi’s defense, as the Panthers from 2019-22 fielded the ACC’s top rushing unit, always placing in the top 12 nationally in that department.
This season, Pitt allowed an average of 97 yards per game on the ground, ranking second in the ACC behind Miami while placing ninth in the country.
Pitt has also showcased a propensity for getting to the quarterback in Bates’ system, posting 270.5 sacks from 2019-24, the most in the nation over that six-year span.
With Bates at the helm, the Panthers produced four defensive first-team All-Americans: linebacker Kyle Louis (2024), tackle Calijah Kancey (2022) and ends Patrick Jones II and Rashad Weaver (2020).
Louis became the first Pitt sophomore to earn first-team All-American honors since Hugh Green in 1978, while Jones and Weaver became the Panthers’ first All-American duo since 1977.
“Randy Bates is everything you want in a coach, leader and man,” Narduzzi said. “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.”
Accolades for Bates include Assistant Coach of the Year in 2020 by the American Football Coaches Association.
Before arriving at Pitt, Bates coached the linebackers at Northwestern for 12 years (2006-17). From 2000-05, he held a variety of staff positions, including defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech. He previously coached at Kent State (1998-99), New Hampshire (1992-97), Navy (1989-91), St. Joseph’s (Ind.) (1984-88) and Miami (1983).
Per a requirement to taking the job at Navy, Bates was commissioned as a lieutenant and served for three years, receiving an honorable discharge upon accepting a position at New Hampshire.
Bates completed his undergraduate studies at Ohio State in 1983 and obtained a master’s degree from Miami in 1985.