Jan 21, 2022 3 min read

Pitt hires Cignetti as coordinator

Pittsburgh native Frank Cignetti Jr. has been hired as Pitt’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Owning more than three decades of experience at both the collegiate and professional levels, this marks Cignetti’s third term at Pitt. He began his coaching career as a Panthers graduate assistant on Mike Gottfried’s staff in 1989. From 2009-10, Cignetti was Pitt’s offensive coordinator under Dave Wannstedt.

Cignetti joins head coach Pat Narduzzi’s staff after spending the past two seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Boston College, where he revitalized the Eagles’ passing attack. Under his guidance, transfer Phil Jurkovec ranked among the ACC’s top quarterbacks as a first-year starter in 2020.

Cignetti brings to Pitt 32 years of coaching experience – 21 in college and 11 in the National Football League. He has coordinated offenses at seven different schools and in the NFL.

“Having the opportunity to bring Frank back to Pitt is a tremendous coup for our entire program,” Narduzzi said. “He’s an extremely talented football coach and teacher. Frank has worked with some of the greatest quarterbacks in the game.”

In college basketball

The Waynesburg University men’s basketball team boasted four double-digit scorers and pulled away late in the contest for a 78-56 win over Bethany in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference matchup on Thursday night.

Sophomore Jansen Knotts continued his recent hot play by posting team highs in both points (21) and rebounds (10) for his second double-double of the season. Senior guard Matt Popeck added 19 points and seven rebounds, while graduate student forward Nijon Kirkman just missed out on a team-leading seventh double-double after going for 16 points and nine board.

n Bethany jumped out to a big early lead and never looked back, as the Waynesburg University women’s team fell 72-51 in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference g

The Bison (8-5, 3-3) tallied 24 of the combined 30 points scored in the first quarter and held a 24-6 advantage heading to the second period. Waynesburg (1-12, 1-6) was able to cut into the deficit by outscoring Bethany 21-14 before the halftime break. At one point in that second period, the Jackets trailed by just nine, 30-21, with three minutes showing on the clock. The host squad regained some of its momentum and led 38-27 at the break.

Sophomore guard Avery Robinson led the Jackets with 19 points.

n Donta Scott scored a career-high 25 points and Maryland took advantage of Kofi Cockburn’s absence in an 81-65 victory over No. 17 Illinois Friday night.

Cockburn was out with a concussion, and the Illini (6-2 Big Ten, 13-5) lost for the second consecutive game after winning six straight. It was a much-needed victory for Maryland, which has struggled all season and already went through a coaching change when Mark Turgeon exited in early December.

No ESPN reporters to Beijing Games

ESPN has joined the increasing number of media companies that will not be sending reporters to next month’s Beijing Olympics because of continued concerns about rising COVID-19 cases worldwide and China’s strict policy about those who test positive.

Executive Vice President Norby Williamson, who is in charge of ESPN’s event and studio productions, said in a statement that the network had planned to send four reporters to China but they will now join a larger group covering the Olympics remotely.