Frequent movement is often a prerequisite for college coaches looking to ascend to the best positions and highest levels.
But switching roles or programs isn’t done without consideration.
Joe Bowen, Pitt’s new linebackers coach and run game coordinator, felt the conditions were just right to join Pat Narduzzi’s staff at Pitt.
“When this opportunity came about, it was a no-brainer for me and my family, just to come here to a Power Four school with a great tradition and history, a great defense and linebacker play,” said Bowen, who served as Buffalo’s defensive coordinator for the past two seasons. “Unbelievable place, unbelievable people.
“I try to be very intentional with the jobs I’ve taken thus far in my career. I want to be able to continue to grow and challenge myself. … (Pitt) aligned well with my core beliefs and the type of defense I was trying to run at Buffalo.”
Bowen, having so recently sat in a playcaller’s chair, is among the more interesting hires Narduzzi made this past offseason.
Last year, he oversaw a Buffalo defense that ranked No. 23 nationally, allowing 186.4 yards per game. The Bulls also ranked sixth in sacks per game (three) and 35th in tackles for loss per game (6.2).
In 2024, Buffalo led the Mid-American Conference with 13 interceptions, posted 33 sacks and had a school-record 92 tackles for loss.
Now Bowen will put heads together with his new colleagues, including Narduzzi and first-year coordinator Cory Sanders, to assist Pitt’s linebackers and defense in those departments.
“You want to respect what they’ve done here and what’s been done here,” Bowen said. “I always try to say, if it ain’t broke, find a way to make it better. The goal will be to build upon that.
“I think any time you’re part of a defensive staff like this, it’s a very collaborative effort in order to marry up the rushing coverage and how we can design certain blitz packages in order to create more TFLs and sacks. Certainly, the philosophy is not going to change.”
Bowen brings a track record of developing individual linebackers into playmakers.
At Buffalo in 2025, he coached first-team All-MAC selection Red Murdock to a 142-tackle, 13.5-tackle-for-loss campaign.
The prior year, Shaun Dolac became Buffalo’s first consensus All-American. At Miami (Ohio) in 2023, Matt Salopek earned MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors under his tutelage.
Previous coaching stops for Bowen included South Carolina (2021), Florida State (2018-20) and Michigan State (2017).
While Pitt returns a key starter at linebacker in Braylan Lovelace, as well as regular contributor Cameron Lindsey, the Panthers brought in two players to help replace All-American Kyle Louis (NFL Draft) and two-time All-ACC selection Rasheem Biles (transferred to Texas).
DeMarco Ward, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound specimen, transferred to Pitt from Memphis, where he played safety last fall, recording two pick-6s. Ward is now working at outside linebacker as Pitt gears up for spring ball in early March.
“Being able to have that coverage aspect is really what I’ve been able to develop in my game, so I could see myself playing in coverage and being able to make some plays like that,” Ward said. “I came from, originally, a 4-2 defense, so sometimes I would play in the box and being able to play safety allowed me to play in space, so I’m comfortable with both.”
Pitt also brought in Alex Sanford (6-1, 225) from Purdue, who envisions himself as more of a run-stopper.
Sanford also enjoyed watching Louis do his thing from afar the last few years.
“I feel like I’m a very good blitzer,” Sanford said. “I think I am good at coverage but personally, I feel like I’m better at stopping the run. There’s a lot of things to get better at. … Kyle Louis is a great player. Then, on top of that, I’d just be watching film and taking things from his game to put into my game.”
Additionally, Bowen is getting to know his true freshman linebackers who recently arrived at Pitt as early enrollees: Marcus Jennings and Desmond Johnson.
Under Narduzzi and former coordinator Randy Bates, who retired in December, stopping the run was priority No. 1 for Pitt’s defense.
That Bowen was hired with the additional title of run game coordinator is suggestive of Narduzzi’s desire to maintain such an approach as his defense enters a new era under Sanders, with several first-year position coaches.
Having joined a Panthers defense that ranked eighth nationally (95.1 yards allowed per game) vs. the run, Bowen is committed to ensuring that standard remains high.
“We have a very well-established run defense here in what we do,” Bowen said. “We’ll be great tacklers;you’ve got to be great tacklers. Linebacker fundamentals in general, you’ve got to play with great footwork and eye control.
“You’ve got to get on and off blocks, you’ve got to be able to tackle well, you’ve got to be able to rush the quarterback, play in coverage and create takeaways. That’s why I love to coach linebackers; we get to do it all.”