A few things I've collected over the last couple days regarding the departure of Dave Andrews and his staff to Iowa State:
- As with any decision to change jobs, there were multiple factors that went into Andrews leaving Pitt. One thing that may or may not have been mentioned thus far is that he has a personal connection to Iowa State: the Cyclones' direct of player personnel is Aaron Hillmann, who was the head strength and conditioning coach at Illinois from 2012-15. Andrews was on Hillmann's staff with the Illini for two years as associate head strength and conditioning coach, so those two have worked closely in the past, and I wouldn't be surprised if Matt Campbell reached out to Andrews on Hillmann's recommendation (although I can't say that for certain).
- Money also can't be discounted in the equation. Iowa State offered Andrews a lot of money. Pitt was willing to give him a raise, too, but I don't think there was a bidding war or anything like that. Sometimes there is a ceiling on what you are willing to pay, and if another school keeps pushing the number up, then you let that coach go. Pat Narduzzi certainly would have liked to keep Andrews; I think he had a lot of respect for Andrews and highly valued his role in the program. But I think Pitt - Narduzzi and others - made a competitive offer but didn't necessarily approach Andrews with a blank check.
EDIT: Since posting this, I've heard more about the situation and it doesn't sound like money was all that much of a factor. It seems more that Andrews has some personal connections to Iowa State and was interested in a new opportunity when it presented itself.
- This shouldn't be confused with Pitt going cheap, because I don't think you can say about the current leadership in the Athletic Department. Narduzzi has been able to retain some key assistants with significant pay raises. That includes this offseason. There is serious support behind the football program right now, and that support is manifesting as a pretty strong budget for assistant coaches.
- As to the matter of Andrews' staff, from what I've heard, it was pretty much guaranteed that they would go with him to Iowa State from the start. I don't think it was a recent development, and it makes sense, both for him to bring his guys and for Pitt's new S&C coach to bring in his own guys.
- Speaking of a new S&C coach, I think there will probably be some movement there in the very near future. It sounds like Narduzzi has zeroed in on a couple candidates and should have one chosen soon. Once Andrews told him he was going to Iowa State, Narduzzi wasted no time and has been interviewing candidates this week.
I've also heard that the players have input on this hire as well. It's ultimately Narduzzi's call, but the candidates are meeting with select groups of players to see what those guys think of the potential hires.
- One other thing I've heard is that there's a strong possibility the next S&C coach will come from the NFL.
- Overall, it hurts Pitt's program to lose Dave Andrews. The players liked and respected him and Narduzzi did, too. I think he was really disappointed to lose Andrews. But I've also seen strength coaches come and go (Andrews was the sixth in my time covering Pitt, if my math is correct). Really, outside of Todd Rice, who was Paul Chryst's first S&C coach and was pretty much universally disliked, I can't really say any of them stands out above the others.
The players loved Andrews. Previous Pitt players also loved Buddy Morris. They seemed to like the guy Chryst hired to replace Rice. They liked Mike Kent, who preceded Morris. And at the time, they even seemed to be okay with Todd Graham's S&C coach (although they later said they weren't keen on him).
My point is this: Dave Andrews was really good, but he's not the only qualified S&C coach in the country. Pitt has a budget to hire someone good and I think Narduzzi can find someone who is more than capable of taking over the job.
- As with any decision to change jobs, there were multiple factors that went into Andrews leaving Pitt. One thing that may or may not have been mentioned thus far is that he has a personal connection to Iowa State: the Cyclones' direct of player personnel is Aaron Hillmann, who was the head strength and conditioning coach at Illinois from 2012-15. Andrews was on Hillmann's staff with the Illini for two years as associate head strength and conditioning coach, so those two have worked closely in the past, and I wouldn't be surprised if Matt Campbell reached out to Andrews on Hillmann's recommendation (although I can't say that for certain).
- Money also can't be discounted in the equation. Iowa State offered Andrews a lot of money. Pitt was willing to give him a raise, too, but I don't think there was a bidding war or anything like that. Sometimes there is a ceiling on what you are willing to pay, and if another school keeps pushing the number up, then you let that coach go. Pat Narduzzi certainly would have liked to keep Andrews; I think he had a lot of respect for Andrews and highly valued his role in the program. But I think Pitt - Narduzzi and others - made a competitive offer but didn't necessarily approach Andrews with a blank check.
EDIT: Since posting this, I've heard more about the situation and it doesn't sound like money was all that much of a factor. It seems more that Andrews has some personal connections to Iowa State and was interested in a new opportunity when it presented itself.
- This shouldn't be confused with Pitt going cheap, because I don't think you can say about the current leadership in the Athletic Department. Narduzzi has been able to retain some key assistants with significant pay raises. That includes this offseason. There is serious support behind the football program right now, and that support is manifesting as a pretty strong budget for assistant coaches.
- As to the matter of Andrews' staff, from what I've heard, it was pretty much guaranteed that they would go with him to Iowa State from the start. I don't think it was a recent development, and it makes sense, both for him to bring his guys and for Pitt's new S&C coach to bring in his own guys.
- Speaking of a new S&C coach, I think there will probably be some movement there in the very near future. It sounds like Narduzzi has zeroed in on a couple candidates and should have one chosen soon. Once Andrews told him he was going to Iowa State, Narduzzi wasted no time and has been interviewing candidates this week.
I've also heard that the players have input on this hire as well. It's ultimately Narduzzi's call, but the candidates are meeting with select groups of players to see what those guys think of the potential hires.
- One other thing I've heard is that there's a strong possibility the next S&C coach will come from the NFL.
- Overall, it hurts Pitt's program to lose Dave Andrews. The players liked and respected him and Narduzzi did, too. I think he was really disappointed to lose Andrews. But I've also seen strength coaches come and go (Andrews was the sixth in my time covering Pitt, if my math is correct). Really, outside of Todd Rice, who was Paul Chryst's first S&C coach and was pretty much universally disliked, I can't really say any of them stands out above the others.
The players loved Andrews. Previous Pitt players also loved Buddy Morris. They seemed to like the guy Chryst hired to replace Rice. They liked Mike Kent, who preceded Morris. And at the time, they even seemed to be okay with Todd Graham's S&C coach (although they later said they weren't keen on him).
My point is this: Dave Andrews was really good, but he's not the only qualified S&C coach in the country. Pitt has a budget to hire someone good and I think Narduzzi can find someone who is more than capable of taking over the job.
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