Wannstedt had been coaching his alma mater since 2005. He was 42-31, including 24-18 in the Big East. In 2010, the Panthers qualified for their third consecutive bowl appearance under Wannstedt but took a big step back from the previous two seasons, when the Panthers went 9-4 and 10-3, respectively.
"On behalf of the University of Pittsburgh, I'd like to thank Coach Wannstedt for his passionate and committed service the past six years," athletic director Steve Pederson said in a statement. "This has never been just a job for Dave. He is wholeheartedly committed to Pitt and its people. We are greatly appreciative of his efforts to build a strong program on and off the field."
Sources told FanHouse, the decision to resign was not Wannstedt's. Under Wannstedt, the Panthers routinely were rated by the recruiting experts as annually signing the Big East's top recruiting classes, but that success didn't translate onto the field.
In Wannstedt's first three seasons, the Panthers suffered some head-scratching losses, including at Ohio (16-10) in 2005, vs. Michigan State (38-23) in 2006, at Virginia (44-14) in 2007 and vs. Navy (48-45) in 2007. However, Wannstedt's signature moment came in the 2007 finale at West Virginia when the Panthers, who were 29-point underdogs, upset the Mountaineers 13-9, costing WVU a spot at the BCS title game.
More From SI.com: Stewart Mandel on Wannstedt, Pitt
That momentum quickly died as the Panthers opened the 2008 season with a 27-17 home loss to Bowling Green.
This season Pittsburgh was an overwhelming favorite to win the Big East, returning star running back Dion Lewis, wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin and defensive end Greg Romeus. The Panthers received 22 of 24 first-place votes in the media's preseason Big East poll and were ranked No. 15 in the preseason Associated Press poll.
At Newport, R.I., this summer, I asked Wannstedt his thoughts on being pegged as the league favorite.
"I don't like it," Wannstedt told me.
Now we know why. The Panthers opened the season with a 27-24 overtime loss at Utah and never recovered.
Pitt started the season 2-3 with losses to Utah, Miami (31-3) and Notre Dame (23-17). The Panthers' only non-conference wins were against FCS member New Hampshire (38-16) and Florida International (44-17).
The Panthers opened Big East play with three consecutive victories against Syracuse, Rutgers and Louisville, before losing at UConn 30-28. The Panthers rebounded with a 17-10 win at South Florida and controlled their destiny in the Big East title race.
However, Pitt was routed in the Backyard Brawl against rival West Virginia 35-10. Last week the Panthers closed the regular season with a 28-10 win at Cincinnati to finish in a three-way tie for the Big East title with UConn and West Virginia. UConn won the league's tiebreaker to receive the Big East's automatic BCS bowl berth, while the Panthers (7-5) slid to the BBVA Compass Bowl, the league's fifth bowl selection.
"The past six years have been among the most gratifying of my entire career," Wannstedt said in a statement. "To be the head coach at my university was the realization of a lifelong dream. It has been an honor and privilege to serve Pitt and its football program.
"I've always told our players that the University of Pittsburgh will mean more to them than just four years of school and football. It will influence and inspire everything they do long after their last class and final game. I know that firsthand. I owe so much of my life to the education and experiences I had here. Pitt has always been, and will continue to be, an incredibly special place for my family and me."
Pitt will play Kentucky (6-6) in the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Ala., on Jan. 8. Although Pitt could have a coach hired by the bowl game, Wannstedt has the option to coach in it, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. If he doesn't Frank Cignetti, the Panthers' offensive coordinator, will be the Panthers' interim coach until Wannstedt's replacement is named.
Pederson indicated in a statement that a national search for Wannstedt's successor will begin immediately.
Brett McMurphy is a national football writer for FanHouse. Contact him at brettmcmurphy@gmail.com or please follow at Twitter.com/BrettmcmurphY
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Well, Which is it? Breaking news/headline say "fired", first line says "resigns"?
That's what I was wondering.
You might want to read things a bit more carefully. It says it was "out." It did not say he was "fired."
FIRE ( TONY SPARANO ) hes done in the NFL, he will make a great high school coach, Mr. Ross you are to smart of a man to keep this coach and staff and QB, Bill Cowher....please
Sparano isn't the biggest problem, it's they have no quarterback. Do you think the run the wildcat every time they get in the red zone because it works so great? No, its because one chad will throw a pick and the other is made of glass so he can't play. Bill parcells let the team get old and never got a decent QB now he ran away just like always, when the going gets tough, bill gets going!!
who cares really? pitt has beenin a downward spiral. Seems like he jumped into the lifeboat before the ship sank
Maybe he resigned to tke a better gig...they seem to be popping up a lot in the NFL
Mark you are probably correct as the NFL loves coaches that are not worth a crap and pay them big bucks on top of it.
what took so long...go pitt
Hey ya gotta win. Good man and coach but winning is the bottom line. Years age I heard Joe Paterno make a statement reguarding players graduating. It was in the 80's when folks were really coming down on coaches wanting players for their skills and did not care about their academics.Ole Joe said his #1 goal was to graduate all his players. Until that time I had great respect for him but after that statement I have very little use for him. Paterno's #1 goal; is to win football games.Bear Bryant was honest when he once said I recruit players for their athletic ability. When they get here it is their responsibility to get their school work. We will give them the help we can but it is their responsibility.
I don't think the Bears will take him back.?!?
I hope the Bears don't take him back. He was a terrible coach in the NFL and the NCAA. He should be a coordinator and nothing else!!!
Why did it take so long? Did he resign or was he fired? Either way, it will turn out best for the University. Just do not hire Rich Rod as his replacement. I am a Pittsburgh guy that lives in Michigan. I try to keep up with the Pittsburgh teams as best I can. Thank goodness for the Steelers,Pens and Pitt basketball.
Pitt wil continue to be inconsequential. You can't keep throwing out your coaches and hope to improve. Johnny Majors and Tony Dorsett are not walking through that door!
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!! CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME HIGH 5?! LOL GOOD RIDDANCE.
Hey Chicago Bear fans, sound familiar??? He had great expectations with a good cast of Bear players, but quickly alienated his players and the fans with bull-headed decisions. He also played certain players who were considered his "pets" while more talented players sat on the bench.Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh, Hey Dave......Good luck at your next coaching job.
Wannstedt was a lousy coach anyhow.
Wow, Steve Pederson gets to hire a new football coach. Good luck with that. Is Bill Callahan interested? You know Pederson doesn't want a program to "gravitate to mediocrity".
I think Dave is a very good collage coach and was a great fit with the level and kind of program they have in pittsburgh.
They are in the Big East but they are not on the same level as big 10 schools or SEC schools.I wonder if dave will retire go back to the NFL or on to another collage???
I'm sure Coach Whinestedt will land on his feet. I hear he's being recruited by a middle school team in Guntersville Alabama.