It's official: Pitt hires Brennan Marion as wide receivers coach

Pat Narduzzi went outside the continental U.S. to hire Pitt’s next wide receivers coach, but he still found someone with strong Western Pennsylvania roots in Hawaii.

Greensburg Salem graduate Brennan Marion, whose hiring was reported by many outlets last week, officially joined the Pitt staff Thursday. He replaces Chris Beatty, who joined the staff of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Marion, 33, spent the 2020 season as wide receivers coach under former Pitt coach Todd Graham at Hawaii. But he also has coached quarterbacks and running backs and served three seasons as an offensive coordinator.

“We went on a national search to find our new wide receivers coach and, boy, did we ever go national by finding him in Hawaii,” Narduzzi said in a statement. “We had a ton of interest in this position, but Brennan Marion clearly rose to the top.”

“It was important that we find a tremendous teacher and coach. Recruiting is very important, but your top priority is always having a coach who can develop his positional room.

“Brennan is a great hire because he truly checked every box — he’s a great teacher of wide receiver play and has outstanding recruiting ties in key geographical areas for us. He is a high-energy person who builds relationships and connects people. Brennan will be a great coach and mentor for our receivers.”

Said Marion: “Dreams really do come true. I am extremely honored and thankful for the opportunity to return home and serve the football program at the University of Pittsburgh. Coach Narduzzi and his staff have been building something very special. I can’t wait to get back to Pittsburgh and work in our wide receivers room.”

At Hawaii, Marion helped develop All-Mountain West Conference receiver Calvin Turner, who was named the New Mexico Bowl’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player after compiling 252 all-purpose yards and scoring two touchdowns in a 28-14 victory against Houston.

In 2019, Marion was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at William & Mary. With five first-year freshmen compiling much of the yardage at quarterback, wide receiver and running back, W&M nearly doubled its scoring average and its total offensive output improved by nearly 100 yards per game. Quarterback Hollis Mathis, a Penn Hills graduate, set W&M first-year freshman records for total offense (1,522), passing yards (976) and rushing touchdowns (eight). Wide receiver Kane Everson was named a Phil Steele Freshman All-American.

Prior to his season at William & Mary, Marion was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Howard. In 2018, Howard was fourth nationally in yards per completion (an average of 17.3 yards).

Marion’s “Go-Go” offense helped Howard earn a 7-4 record in 2017, including a stunning 43-40 victory at heavily favored UNLV in the opener.

Marion also coached running backs at Oklahoma Baptist.

After a record-setting career as a wide receiver at Tulsa, Marion returned to Pennsylvania in 2014 and led Waynesboro Area, which was 0-10 the year before, to the Mid-Penn Colonial Division championship and its first winning season in 22 years. The year before, Marion coached St. Patrick-St. Vincent (Calif.) to the North Coast Section Division IV playoffs following a 1-9 season prior to his arrival.

In two seasons (2007-08) as a wide receiver at Tulsa, Marion gained 2,356 yards on 82 receptions with 19 touchdowns. He was a two-time All-Conference USA selection and the 2007 C-USA Newcomer of the Year. He set NCAA records for yards per catch in a season (31.9 in 2007) and career (28.7).

Prior to Tulsa, he was a standout at De Anza College in 2006, leading California’s junior colleges with 1,196 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns on 60 receptions.

After college, he signed free agent contracts with the Miami Dolphins and the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League before a knee injury led him to a career as a coach.

Marion was a four-year letterman in football, basketball and track at Greensburg Salem where he played wide receiver and defensive back under coach George Kemerer and was named All-Keystone Conference.