University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Safeties
- Season at Pitt:
- Ninth
Cory Sanders enters his ninth season with Pitt and his first as defensive coordinator after being promoted to the role on Dec. 28, 2025. He previously spent eight seasons working with the Panthers’ secondary, including positional oversight of the safeties. Sanders’ role within the program expanded prior to the 2024 campaign when head coach Pat Narduzzi promoted him to assistant head coach.
"Cory has earned this opportunity every step of the way," Narduzzi said. "From the time he joined our staff, he's consistently shown leadership and football intelligence, but more importantly, he has a deep understanding of our team and how all the pieces fit together on and off the field. He's earned the respect of everyone in this building, and I have complete confidence in him leading our defense as we begin this next chapter of Pitt Football."
Under Sanders' direction, Pitt's safeties have been an annual strength. In 2025, Cruce Brookins earned Honorable Mention All-ACC recognition in his first season as a starter, while Donovan McMillon earned All-ACC Second Team honors in 2024 after leading the Panthers in tackles for the second consecutive season. Javon McIntyre also produced back-to-back standout seasons during that time, becoming just the second Pitt defensive back in the past 20 years to record multiple campaigns with at least 50 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss.
During his tenure, Sanders has built an impressive Pitt safety pipeline to the pros that includes McMillon, Erick Hallett II, Brandon Hill, and Damar Hamlin.
Prior to Pitt, Sanders was the defensive backs coach at Western Michigan (2017), where he developed a pair of NFL Draft selections in cornerbacks Darius Phillips and Sam Beal.
Sanders was part of shaping an NCAA Division II program from the ground up at the University of West Florida, which played its inaugural season in 2016. As the Argonauts' defensive coordinator, he directed a unit that ranked 11th nationally in quarterback sacks (3.6 sacks per game) and 26th in tackles for loss (8.2 TFLs per game). West Florida finished 5-6 that season, the most victories for a first-year Division II program in a decade.
Prior to West Florida, Sanders spent five seasons (2010-14) on the football staff at Division II Saint Joseph's (Ind.) College, his alma mater. The team's defensive coordinator his initial year, Sanders was promoted to head coach for the 2011 season and rebuilt the Pumas into a contender in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).
The team achieved runner-up finishes in the GLVC in each of his final two seasons, while featuring a nationally ranked defense. The Pumas also set a school record for single-season total offense (4,594 yards) during his tenure and produced 36 All-GLVC performers.
Sanders’ initial coaching appointments came at North Central College (2007) and Elmhurst College (2008-09). He coached the defensive backs at both Illinois institutions.
Sanders himself was an outstanding collegiate defensive back. He was a four-time all-conference honoree at Saint Joseph's and elected a Pumas team captain three times. Sanders was an instrumental performer for two conference championship teams and finished his career fifth in school history with 30.5 TFLs.
Sanders is a 2007 graduate of Saint Joseph's with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He and his wife, Sofia, have two children: daughter, Nisa, and son, Deen.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Alma Mater: Saint Joseph's, 2007
COLLEGE COACHING EXPERIENCE
Pitt, 2018-present, secondary/safeties; 2024-25, assistant head coach; 2026, defensive coordinator.
Western Michigan, 2017, defensive backs.
West Florida, 2015-16, defensive coordinator and defensive backs.
Saint Joseph's (Ind.), 2010, defensive coordinator; 2011-14, head coach.
Elmhurst, 2008-09, defensive backs.
North Central, 2007, defensive backs.
