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 and 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.
On Sunday and Monday, Harlon Barnett (assistant head coach/safeties), Brent Davis (tight ends), Joe Bowen (linebackers/run game coordinator) and Mike Priefer (special teams) joined Narduzzi’s staff, a source confirmed to TribLive.
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.
Davis spent 2022-25 at Virginia Tech, primarily coaching tight ends. Previously, he served as Army’s offensive coordinator from 2014-22.
Bowen, who was Buffalo’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, will replace Manalac. He will lead 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 North Carolina under Bill Belichick.
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.
