Two weeks and one day after the end of the season, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi changed the direction of his offense when he hired 30-year-old Kade Bell, formerly of Western Carolina, as his next offensive coordinator.
Pat Narduzzi names rising star Kade Bell as Pitt’s new offensive coordinator ????
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) December 10, 2023
Bell comes to Pitt after coordinating Western Carolina’s FCS-leading attack!#H2P » #WeNotMe pic.twitter.com/ScRQyPxcqt
Bell replaces Frank Cignetti Jr., who was fired Nov. 26 after two seasons at Pitt.
The hiring represents a shift in Narduzzi’s hiring tendency at the offensive coordinator position. Matt Canada was named Pitt’s offensive coordinator in 2016 at the age of 44, but Jim Chaney, Shawn Watson, Mark Whipple and Cignetti were hired while in their 50s and 60s.
???????????????????? ???????????????? #LOTE #HTG⛽️ pic.twitter.com/zSbPNdQMZ5
— Western Carolina Football (@CatamountsFB) November 24, 2023
The son of a coach like the man at Pitt who hired him, Bell led Western Carolina of the FCS Southern Conference to a record-breaking season in 2023 while working on his father Kerwin Bell’s staff. The Catamounts finished 7-4 as their offense led the Southern Conference in eight statistical categories.
“Kade’s offensive approach — relentlessly fast and aggressive — is everything a defensive coordinator hates to face and the type of system our players will absolutely love,” Narduzzi said in a statement. “He’s an incredibly creative play caller who is widely regarded as one of the brightest young coaches in the country.
“Beyond X’s and O’s, Kade understands and greatly values relationship-building with his players and fellow coaches. On and off the field, Kade Bell will make us better.”
Narduzzi went on to call Bell “one of college football’s most dynamic and aggressive offensive minds.”
Western Carolina was first in the conference and the FCS in average total offense (504.1 yards). The Catamounts were third in FCS and No. 1 in the conference in passing (321.2). They also led the Southern Conference in rushing (182.9), third-down efficiency (44.5%), scoring (37.5), passing efficiency (159.8), first downs (288) and red zone scoring (34 touchdowns, tied with conference champion Furman).
The Catamounts scored 77, 49, 52 and 58 points in four of their victories.
After throwing for 9,613 yards and accounting for 93 touchdowns as a four-year starting quarterback at Jacksonville University (where he was coached by his father from 2011-15), Bell immediately embarked on a coaching career.
He was a graduate assistant at Valdosta State in 2016 before he served as offensive passing game coordinator the next two seasons. He was an offensive analyst at South Florida in 2019 and associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Tusculum University in 2020-21.
In 52 games as an offensive coordinator at multiple schools, Bell’s teams have produced more than 500 yards 31 times (60%).
“I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity that coach Narduzzi and Director of Athletics Heather Lyke have given me to become the offensive coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh,” Bell said in a statement. “Great players, traditions and championships are what this program is about. I can’t wait to get to work and be part of something special in the City of Pittsburgh. Hope our fans are ready to play fast and score faster.”
