Rich Rodriguez Gives Honest Opinion About Pitt HC Pat Narduzzi

With Rich Rodriguez embarking on a second tenure at WVU, the 2025 Backyard Brawl stands as one of the most intriguing matchups in all of college football. And while there’s always pressure for West Virginia to beat Pitt, there’s no coach who would feel that more at WVU than Rodriguez.

But even though Rodriguez hates Pitt and often refers to the word “Pitt” as that four letter word, he said something about his counterpart at Pitt that might surprise some WVU fans.

During an interview with 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, Rodriguez was asked for his thoughts about Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi. And despite hating everything else about Pitt, he admitted he doesn’t hate Narduzzi. In fact, Rodriguez said the two coaches of rival programs are actually friends.

“For being rivals and rival coaches, a lot better than it probably should be,” said Rodriguez about his relationship with Narduzzi. “I got a lot of respect for coach and I’ve known him for a long time, and think he’s an outstanding coach. And he’s a friend, he’s been a good friend the whole time, too.”

West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez tells us why this was the right time to return to #WVU and his excitement to be back coaching the #Mountaineers.

Rich Rod shares his opinion of #Pitt and the Panthers being the biggest game on the schedule, every season.

Listen:… pic.twitter.com/ZySET2LIvk

— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) February 28, 2025

Rodriguez said that the two coaches have built a personal friendship over the years, most notably after his WVU departure, and often talk as colleagues. Obviously, it’s not uncommon for veteran coaches to form a friendship. And up until now, they never crossed paths.

“We can’t be as friendly now as maybe we were the last 17 years,” added Rodriguez while fully aware what being on opposite sides of the rivalry could do to any friendship, especially during football season.

Rodriguez and Narduzzi have never faced off as opposing head coaches.

But that’s about to change when Rodriguez faces the Panthers for the first time since the infamous 13-9 game that saw a bad Pitt team upset the Mountaineers and rob West Virginia of an appearance in the BCS National Championship Game. Rodriguez would then quickly leave WVU and bolt for Michigan on Dec. 18 of that same year, a decision he regrets.

“It is great to be home. Should’ve never left,” said Rodriguez at his introductory press conference.

Rodriguez knows how big of a deal the Brawl is to WVU fans and the 2025 matchup can argue as the most important edition of the historic rivalry in years.

A win for West Virginia provides some revenge for WVU blowing the 2024 game, granted that game saw a different coaching staff and roster lead the Mountaineers into Pittsburgh. It would also cap off the current four-game series at 2-2 before taking a pause for a few years.

However, a loss, especially one that would come on Sept. 13, would give Pitt tons of bragging rights and bring back old memories from that painful night on Dec. 1, 2007.

Rodriguez, a West Virginia native, currently holds a 190-128-2 overall coaching record. He experienced most of his success while leading the Mountaineers from 2001-2007. At WVU, Rodriguez won four Big East titles and was named conference Coach of the Year twice. He added a third Coach of the Year honor in the Pac-12 in 2014 with Arizona.

Find more coverage of Rich Rodriguez at WV Sports Now.

For a related story, Rich Rodriguez explained why his son Rhett and Pat White were the “right” hires for WVU.