The report from Thursday, Jan. 13, about Boston College offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. taking on the job of Pitt's offensive coordinator is now an official announcement, per Pitt Athletics Friday afternoon:
Welcome back, Frank Cignetti Jr. βοΈ
β Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) January 21, 2022
Offensive Coordinator/QBs π
Pittsburgh native comes home with three decades of college and NFL coaching experience to work with the ACC champions! π#H2P Β» https://t.co/NCKyXWJD0B pic.twitter.com/216KoGeKMy
Cignetti began his coaching career at Pitt as a graduate assistant in 1989 and then returned to be offensive coordinator for the program for two seasons in 2009 and 2010 under Dave Wannstedt. The Panthers saw several stars grow into successes for a team that finished ranked No. 15 by the Associated Press, the highest ranking since 1981 until Pat Narduzzi's team finished No. 13 this season. Cignetti oversaw the rise of offensive stars like Dion Lewis, Jonathan Baldwin and Dorin Dickerson for Pitt in the only other season (2021) the program finished with 10 or more wins since 1981.
After coaching 21 years of college football and 11 years in the NFL, Cignetti has developed a relationship for developing and working with star quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning, and his return just in time to help new USC transfer quarterback Kedon Slovis could be the perfect touch for Pitt's offense to retain its standing as one of the best in college football.
"Having the opportunity to bring Frank back to Pitt is a tremendous coup for our entire program," Narduzzi said in a released statement Friday. "He's an extremely talented football coach and teacher. Frank has worked with some of the greatest quarterbacks in the game. He knows what it takes to build a championship-caliber offense. I really think Frank's experience and knowledge will make us better in every positional room. Beyond football, Frank understands and values what Pitt and Pittsburgh are all about. This is home for him. His passion and energy are going to make an immediate connection with our team."
Cignetti inherits an offense along with a highly touted new quarterback through the Transfer Portal in Slovis, brings the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner in Jordan Addison, another highly touted Transfer Portal recruit in receiver Konata Mumpfield, a promising young tight end in Gavin Bartholomew, an entire returning offensive line, and a dangerous trio of running backs in Israel Abanikanda, Vincent Davis and Rodney Hammond II. It's a loaded group that basically brings back the same talent that helped Kenny Pickett earn third place among the Heisman Trophy voting in 2021.
"My family and I are extremely grateful to coach Pat Narduzzi for the opportunity to return home to Pittsburgh and coach at Pitt, two places that have always remained very close to our hearts," Cignetti said in his own Friday statement. "There are some incredibly special things happening at Pitt and it is exciting to become a part of it. I can't wait to work with this great coaching staff and, most importantly, get to know and work with our players. I know everyone is wholly committed to building on last year's ACC championship and continuing to elevate this proud program."
Cignetti's extensive quarterback coaching experience should be a major opportunity for Slovis and a healthy Nick Patti, who started for Pitt against Michigan State in the Peach Bowl until he broke his collarbone scoring the game's opening touchdown. Slovis brings a cannon and plenty of success, but injuries, coaching changes and other issues led to regressed numbers after an explosive freshman season with 30 passing touchdowns in 2019. Cignetti's teachings could help Slovis overcome what appears to his most notable point to improve upon as we showed in this film study of his progressions through his reads at USC.
For more on why Cignetti''s hire is so exciting, listen to my latest episode of the H2P podcast where I talk with Dickerson about the impact Cignetti brought on and off the field for the program in 2009:
