Here's what Frank Cignetti brings to Pitt after 32 years coaching in college, NFL
Pitt made it official Friday, confirming what had been widely reported for the past week that Frank Cignetti Jr. will be the Panthers’ next offensive coordinator.
Here are few facts about Cignetti and the hire:
• Cignetti will be coach Pat Narduzzi’s fifth offensive coordinator since 2015. Jim Chaney and Matt Canada each lasted one season before leaving for the SEC (Georgia and LSU, respectively). Shawn Watson was gone after two seasons, but he did coach two backs who each gained more than 1,000 yards (Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall). In three seasons, Mark Whipple helped turn Kenny Pickett into a projected first-round draft choice.
• This is the third time a Pitt coach has hired Cignetti. He was a graduate assistant under Mike Gottfried in 1989 and offensive coordinator under Dave Wannstedt in 2009 and 2010.
• Cignetti comes to Pitt from ACC rival Boston College where he tutored former Pine-Richland quarterback Phil Jurkovec the past two seasons. Cignetti directed Jurkovec when he threw for 358 yards and three touchdowns to help defeat Pitt in 2020, 31-30, in overtime.
• Miami Dolphins tight end Hunter Long became an All-American under Cignetti’s guidance. Former Pitt tight end Dorin Dickerson also became an All-American while working with Cignetti in 2009. Perhaps Pitt rising sophomore tight end Gavin Bartholomew might want to know that.
• Cignetti has coached for 32 years — 21 in college, 11 in the NFL. He counts Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, Dion Lewis and Todd Gurley among several pupils who have found success at the pro level. Rodgers threw only two interceptions — a career low as a starter — while working with Cignetti in 2018.
• Cignetti has been an offensive coordinator at Fresno State, North Carolina, California, Boston College and the St. Louis Rams.
• Cignetti played safety and was an assistant coach for his father, College Football Hall of Fame inductee Frank Cignetti Sr., at IUP. Frank Cignetti Sr. was an assistant at Pitt from 1966-68. Brother Curt, the head coach at James Madison, worked on Pitt staffs with head coaches Foge Fazio, Johnny Majors and Walt Harris.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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