Report: Michigan State DC Narduzzi interviews at Pitt, Colorado State
Colorado State and Pittsburgh have interviewed Michigan State defensive coordinator/assistant head coach Pat Narduzzi for their head coaching positions, according to a report from MLive.com's Mike Griffith.
Narduzzi is finishing his eighth season with the Spartans. He is regarded as one of the top defensive assistants in the country and has helped Michigan State post the Big Ten's best defense over the three seasons prior to 2014.
During that span, Michigan State has gone 31-10 with three bowl wins, including a victory over Stanford in last season's Rose Bowl.
With an annual salary of around $900,000, Narduzzi is the highest paid assistant in the Big Ten, according to a database from USA Today Sports. He has been floated as a potential candidate for other head coach openings in the past.
Earlier this week, Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio addressed Narduzzi drawing head coaching interest.
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"In regards to Pat, I think he's been up there and talked about quite a lot,'' Dantonio said, according to MLive.com. "and I've continually said it's going to happen at some point in time. When that point in time happens, it's going to be right for him, and he's going to be prepared.
"When that point in time happens, we've had this happen enough for us that we'll be prepared. Up until that time it's status quo. It's a good situation.''
Pittsburgh and Colorado State are searching for new coaches after their previous coaches left for more high-profile jobs in other conferences. Paul Chryst left the Panthers to become Wisconsin's head coach, while Jim McElwain left the Rams for Florida.
According to Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports, Narduzzi is emerging as a "strong candidate" at Pitt.
Michigan State has gone 10-2 this season, marking the fourth time in the past five seasons the Spartans recorded double-digit wins. Their only two losses this season came against teams (Oregon and Ohio State) selected to the College Football Playoff.
Michigan State will face Baylor in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day.
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