Some people never learn:
Wannstedt out after six seasons as Pitt coach
By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports Writer 12 hours, 10 minutes ago
PITTSBURGH (AP)—A few words on a statement said Dave Wannstedt resigned as Pitt's football coach. The emotion in his voice and the unhappy players gathered around him said something much different. Wannstedt stepped down under pressure Tuesday, three days after Pittsburgh finished up a disappointing 7-5 regular season that included blowout losses at home to Miami and rival West Virginia. The former Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins coach will remain as a special assistant to athletic director Steve Pederson, who hopes this coaching change turns out better than the last one he made at Nebraska.
Wannstedt, who signed a contract extension through the 2014 season only nine months ago, gave no signs Sunday after Pitt accepted a minor bowl bid that he was weighing retirement. But after he met Tuesday with Pederson, Pitt held a hastily called news conference announcing he wouldn't return.
It was immediately evident that Wannstedt didn't voluntarily choose to leave. A number of Pitt players who appeared voluntarily at the news conference, without being invited, crowded around him to show support.
Wannstedt, a former Pitt player whose devotion to his alma mater is renowned, was supposed to read a statement and answer questions. He did neither.
"You know what? I had a few things to say but this says it," Wannstedt said, referring to his players' strong support. "I appreciate the opportunity that (chancellor) Mark Nordenberg and this university gave me to come here, win games and most importantly to try to make a difference in these young men's lives. Thank you."
Wannstedt and the players then left for a team meeting, leaving Pederson to explain why Wannstedt wouldn't return in 2011.
"Over the course of time, Dave and I talked a number of times that he wouldn't coach forever and that he might want to do something else," Pederson said. "After this season, it became the appropriate time to have that discussion. It seemed to make sense at this particular time."
Not to the players, it didn't.
"I'd be disappointed if had a coach that the players didn't think the world of," Pederson said. "These players think a lot of Dave, and that's obvious. Nothing could have meant more to Dave than to have them here with him."
Pitt will immediately begin a national search for a replacement. Pederson doesn't prefer an offensive or a defensive coach, and assistants will be considered.
"We've kept our eye on a number of people," said Pederson, who said all athletic directors maintain such a list in case there's an abrupt coaching change.
Wannstedt's six-year tenure was marked by upset losses, a failure to win an outright Big East title or play in a BCS bowl—something the Panthers did under his predecessor, Walt Harris, the season before Wannstedt took over in 2005.
Pitt's administration was highly supportive of Wannstedt, yet the empty seats at Heinz Field and the persistent inability to elevate the Panthers' program to a higher level dogged him throughout his stay at his hometown university.
Wannstedt had a 42-31 record, including a 26-12 mark from 2008-10 that is Pitt's best for a three-season stretch since 1981-83. However, the Panthers failed to meet expectations even while going 9-4 in 2008 and 10-3 in 2009, when last-minute losses to West Virginia and Cincinnati cost them the Big East title.
This season, the Panthers—overwhelming favorites to win the conference— lost a two-game lead in the Big East and a BCS bowl bid by losing to Connecticut and West Virginia. And despite running a mostly embarrassment-free program, Wannstedt and the school were troubled by charges brought against four players.
Non-conference losses to Utah and Notre Dame didn't help during a season in which running back Dion Lewis rushed for fewer than 1,000 yards after gaining 1,799 last season. Greg Romeus, the Big East defensive co-player of the year in 2009, was limited to two games by a pair of major injuries.
"This was a hard season, a tough year all the way around, on and off the field," Pederson said. "That wears on everyone. … As you go through tough years, you begin to evaluate."
Pitt won only one bowl game under Wannstedt, beating North Carolina 19-17 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl last season.
This will be Pederson's first national coaching search since his failed hiring of Bill Callahan at Nebraska in 2004, a move that followed the surprise firing of Frank Solich following a 9-3 season. Then, Pederson said he wouldn't stand for the Cornhuskers to sink into mediocrity—apparently, a criteria also used in the Wannstedt decision.
Pederson and Callahan subsequently were ousted weeks apart in 2007, with Pederson returning to Pitt shortly after that. He had previously been Pitt's AD from 1996-2002, overseeing the demolition of Pitt Stadium, the move into Heinz Field and the construction of the much-praised Petersen Events Center for basketball.
Wannstedt had been hired in late 2004 by former Pitt AD Jeff Long, who is now at Arkansas.
Pitt's highlight moment under Wannstedt's tenure was a 13-9 upset victory in 2007 at West Virginia, a 28-point favorite that needed to win to qualify for the national championship game. But the Panthers came back to begin the next season by losing to Bowling Green.
Wannstedt, a former Panthers player, returned Pitt to its roots by emphasizing local recruiting, but with decidedly mixed results. Western Pennsylvania turns out far fewer impact players than it did during the 1960s and 1970s, when Tony Dorsett, Dan Marino and Bill Fralic all came from the region.
Wannstedt, who has drawn sharp criticism for his in-game coaching, will be allowed to coach the Jan. 8 BBVA Compass Bowl against Kentucky in Birmingham, Ala., if he wants. Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. likely will coach the team if Wannstedt doesn't.
"Dave's coached his whole life, and all of a sudden he's not a coach anymore," Pederson said of the former Southern Cal, Miami and Dallas Cowboys assistant coach. "It's tough on anyone. Finishing coaching is not easy for anyone."
Wannstedt out after six seasons as Pitt coach
By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports Writer 12 hours, 10 minutes ago
PITTSBURGH (AP)—A few words on a statement said Dave Wannstedt resigned as Pitt's football coach. The emotion in his voice and the unhappy players gathered around him said something much different. Wannstedt stepped down under pressure Tuesday, three days after Pittsburgh finished up a disappointing 7-5 regular season that included blowout losses at home to Miami and rival West Virginia. The former Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins coach will remain as a special assistant to athletic director Steve Pederson, who hopes this coaching change turns out better than the last one he made at Nebraska.
Wannstedt, who signed a contract extension through the 2014 season only nine months ago, gave no signs Sunday after Pitt accepted a minor bowl bid that he was weighing retirement. But after he met Tuesday with Pederson, Pitt held a hastily called news conference announcing he wouldn't return.
It was immediately evident that Wannstedt didn't voluntarily choose to leave. A number of Pitt players who appeared voluntarily at the news conference, without being invited, crowded around him to show support.
Wannstedt, a former Pitt player whose devotion to his alma mater is renowned, was supposed to read a statement and answer questions. He did neither.
"You know what? I had a few things to say but this says it," Wannstedt said, referring to his players' strong support. "I appreciate the opportunity that (chancellor) Mark Nordenberg and this university gave me to come here, win games and most importantly to try to make a difference in these young men's lives. Thank you."
Wannstedt and the players then left for a team meeting, leaving Pederson to explain why Wannstedt wouldn't return in 2011.
"Over the course of time, Dave and I talked a number of times that he wouldn't coach forever and that he might want to do something else," Pederson said. "After this season, it became the appropriate time to have that discussion. It seemed to make sense at this particular time."
Not to the players, it didn't.
"I'd be disappointed if had a coach that the players didn't think the world of," Pederson said. "These players think a lot of Dave, and that's obvious. Nothing could have meant more to Dave than to have them here with him."
Pitt will immediately begin a national search for a replacement. Pederson doesn't prefer an offensive or a defensive coach, and assistants will be considered.
"We've kept our eye on a number of people," said Pederson, who said all athletic directors maintain such a list in case there's an abrupt coaching change.
Wannstedt's six-year tenure was marked by upset losses, a failure to win an outright Big East title or play in a BCS bowl—something the Panthers did under his predecessor, Walt Harris, the season before Wannstedt took over in 2005.
Pitt's administration was highly supportive of Wannstedt, yet the empty seats at Heinz Field and the persistent inability to elevate the Panthers' program to a higher level dogged him throughout his stay at his hometown university.
Wannstedt had a 42-31 record, including a 26-12 mark from 2008-10 that is Pitt's best for a three-season stretch since 1981-83. However, the Panthers failed to meet expectations even while going 9-4 in 2008 and 10-3 in 2009, when last-minute losses to West Virginia and Cincinnati cost them the Big East title.
This season, the Panthers—overwhelming favorites to win the conference— lost a two-game lead in the Big East and a BCS bowl bid by losing to Connecticut and West Virginia. And despite running a mostly embarrassment-free program, Wannstedt and the school were troubled by charges brought against four players.
Non-conference losses to Utah and Notre Dame didn't help during a season in which running back Dion Lewis rushed for fewer than 1,000 yards after gaining 1,799 last season. Greg Romeus, the Big East defensive co-player of the year in 2009, was limited to two games by a pair of major injuries.
"This was a hard season, a tough year all the way around, on and off the field," Pederson said. "That wears on everyone. … As you go through tough years, you begin to evaluate."
Pitt won only one bowl game under Wannstedt, beating North Carolina 19-17 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl last season.
This will be Pederson's first national coaching search since his failed hiring of Bill Callahan at Nebraska in 2004, a move that followed the surprise firing of Frank Solich following a 9-3 season. Then, Pederson said he wouldn't stand for the Cornhuskers to sink into mediocrity—apparently, a criteria also used in the Wannstedt decision.
Pederson and Callahan subsequently were ousted weeks apart in 2007, with Pederson returning to Pitt shortly after that. He had previously been Pitt's AD from 1996-2002, overseeing the demolition of Pitt Stadium, the move into Heinz Field and the construction of the much-praised Petersen Events Center for basketball.
Wannstedt had been hired in late 2004 by former Pitt AD Jeff Long, who is now at Arkansas.
Pitt's highlight moment under Wannstedt's tenure was a 13-9 upset victory in 2007 at West Virginia, a 28-point favorite that needed to win to qualify for the national championship game. But the Panthers came back to begin the next season by losing to Bowling Green.
Wannstedt, a former Panthers player, returned Pitt to its roots by emphasizing local recruiting, but with decidedly mixed results. Western Pennsylvania turns out far fewer impact players than it did during the 1960s and 1970s, when Tony Dorsett, Dan Marino and Bill Fralic all came from the region.
Wannstedt, who has drawn sharp criticism for his in-game coaching, will be allowed to coach the Jan. 8 BBVA Compass Bowl against Kentucky in Birmingham, Ala., if he wants. Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. likely will coach the team if Wannstedt doesn't.
"Dave's coached his whole life, and all of a sudden he's not a coach anymore," Pederson said of the former Southern Cal, Miami and Dallas Cowboys assistant coach. "It's tough on anyone. Finishing coaching is not easy for anyone."
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