On top of suffering several significant player transfer portal defections over the last month, Pitt also has had to navigate losses to its staff.
Defensive coordinator Randy Bates retired, linebackers coach Ryan Manalac was hired as UConn’s defensive coordinator, while special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Jacob Bronowski departed for Auburn in early December.
Coach Pat Narduzzi first addressed the turnover by promoting Cory Sanders, formerly assistant head coach and also in charge of the team’s safeties, to defensive coordinator Dec. 28, one day after the Panthers’ loss to East Carolina in the Military Bowl.
Things were quiet over the ensuing week, but on Sunday and Monday, a total of four names popped up as joining Narduzzi’s staff: Harlon Barnett (assistant head coach/safeties), Brent Davis (tight ends), Joe Bowen (linebackers/run game coordinator) and Mike Priefer (special teams).
A source confirmed all four hirings to TribLive. They are expected to be formally announced Monday.
Barnett will take Sanders’ previous role as safeties coach/assistant head coach. He joins Pitt from Northwestern, where he occupied the same role. In 2023, he was interim head coach at Michigan State for eight games after Mel Tucker was suspended and then fired mid-year.
Brent Davis, overseeing the tight ends, spent 2022-25 at Virginia Tech, primarily in that role. Previously, he served as Army’s offensive coordinator from 2014-22.
Narduzzi also poached Buffalo defensive coordinator Joe Bowen to replace Manalac.
Bowen, who coached Buffalo’s linebackers in addition to calling plays, has also been tapped to coordinate Pitt’s run game on top of leading a position group that includes Leechburg’s Braylan Lovelace and Aliquippa’s Cameron Lindsey.
Before Buffalo, Bowen previously coached the linebackers and was run game coordinator at Miami (Ohio).
Priefer has a long history of coordinating special teams, doing so in the NFL from 2002-2022 with the Jaguars, Giants, Chiefs, Broncos, Vikings and Browns.
Most recently, he spent the 2025 campaign as special teams coordinator at UNC under Bill Belichick.
Notably, on Jan. 10, 2021, Priefer served as acting head coach of the Browns in their 48-37 playoff triumph over the Steelers when Kevin Stefanski tested positive for covid-19.