Immediately following defensive coordinator Randy Bates’ retirement, Pitt forewent a national search and instead turned in-house in naming his successor.
Cory Sanders, on staff since 2018 as safeties coach, will now be calling the defensive shots for the Panthers.
Sanders, 40, was named assistant head coach in 2024 by Pat Narduzzi, who announced Sanders’ promotion Sunday.
He succeeds Bates, who served as Pitt’s coordinator since 2018 and wrapped his coaching career after the Panthers’ 23-17 loss to East Carolina in the Military Bowl on Saturday.
“Cory has earned this opportunity every step of the way,” Narduzzi said in a statement. “From the time he joined our staff, he’s consistently shown leadership and football intelligence, but more importantly, he has a deep understanding of our team and how all the pieces fit together on and off the field.
“He’s earned the respect of everyone in this building, and I have complete confidence in him leading our defense as we begin this next chapter of Pitt football.”
It’s unclear whether Sanders will continue to lead the safeties room in addition to his play calling duties.
In that role, Sanders oversaw the development of players such as Donovan McMillon, Erick Hallett II, Brandon Hill and Damar Hamlin, all of whom made it to the NFL after playing for the Panthers.
This season, Pitt safety Cruce Brookins earned honorable mention All-ACC honors, and Javon McIntyre was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2024.
Prior to Pitt, Sanders coached at Western Michigan (2017), West Florida (2015-16) and his alma mater, St. Joseph’s College in Indiana (2011-16).
Sanders, who played defensive back for four years at St. Joseph’s, got his coaching start at Division III North Central (Ill.) in 2007 before moving to Elmhurst for two seasons (2008-09).
“I’m incredibly grateful to Coach Narduzzi and the University of Pittsburgh for the trust that’s been placed in me,” Sanders said. “I also owe a thank you to all the mentors and coaches who helped me get to this point, especially coach Randy Bates. He and Coach Narduzzi believed in me and hired me eight years ago, and I’ve learned so much from them. Their leadership and trust helped put me in this position today.
“Pitt has been home for a long time and has meant a great deal to me and my family since the day we arrived,” he added. “I’m fired up to continue building on the defensive foundation that’s been established here. We’ll remain aggressive and put a defense on the field that plays fast, relentless and physical.”
With the defensive coordinator position now filled, Narduzzi must turn his attention to linebackers.
After the Military Bowl, reports surfaced that Ryan Manalac, who had overseen the likes of Kyle Louis, Rasheem Biles, Braylan Lovelace, SirVocea Dennis and Brandon George since 2021, was leaving for UConn.
Per ESPN, Manalac inked a two-year deal to become the Huskies’ defensive coordinator.
Neither Pitt nor UConn has confirmed the hire, but Manalac no longer appears on the Panthers’ website or staff directory.
Historically, that has served as verification of a Panthers staffer leaving.
With Manalac gone, that leaves Narduzzi with another staff vacancy following tight ends coach/special teams coordinator Jacob Bronowski’s departure for Auburn in early December.
Special care must accompany Narduzzi’s naming of a new linebackers coach, as one of Pitt’s most pressing priorities this offseason is retaining linebacker Rasheem Biles, who had a close relationship with Manalac. Biles capped the 2025 season with a dominating 16-tackle, two-sack performance in the Military Bowl, where he scored a touchdown after forcing and recovering a fumble.