Pitt

Pitt rewards offensive coordinator Kade Bell with contract extension

Jerry DiPaola
By Jerry DiPaola
2 Min Read March 15, 2025 | 9 months Ago
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After a season of improved production on offense, Pitt extended the contract of offensive coordinator Kade Bell, senior associate athletic director Pat Bostick said Saturday on the “Panther Insider” Show on 93.7 FM.

The new contract and pay raise for Bell, 32, was first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Bell is expected to be paid among the top one-third of offensive coordinators in the ACC, Thamel reported.

With the extension, Bell could become the longest-serving offensive coordinator under coach Pat Narduzzi. Hired a year ago, Bell is the sixth OC to work for Narduzzi, who is entering his 11th season at Pitt. Only Mark Whipple (2019-21) served more than two seasons.

Bell’s hurry-up offense, a dramatic departure from previous Narduzzi teams at Pitt, averaged 408.7 total yards last season, a significant increase over 2023 (317.9) and better than 2022 (405.8) when the Panthers won nine games.

While finishing 7-6 in 2024, Pitt scored 45 touchdowns on offense, 42nd among 133 FBS schools.

Even after quarterback Eli Holstein was sidelined by injuries and played in only 10 games, Pitt’s passing game averaged 266.9 yards, 24th in the nation, fourth in the ACC.

The extension comes after On3.com’s Pete Nakos reported at the end of last season that Bell was under consideration to become Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator, a job that eventually went to Ben Arbuckle of Washington State.

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About the Writers

Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.

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