Ryan Manalac Named Linebackers Coach for Pitt Football
1/26/2021 9:45:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Ryan Manalac, a former standout collegiate linebacker at Cincinnati who most recently was the defensive coordinator at Bucknell, has been named Pitt's new linebackers coach, it was announced today by Coach Pat Narduzzi.
Manalac's arrival at Pitt serves as a reunion with Narduzzi. The pair previously worked together when Narduzzi was defensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Michigan State.
"As long as I've known Ryan, as both a player and a coach, he's always been the type of person who simply puts his head down and gets right to work," Narduzzi said. "He's relentless in his work ethic and has an intelligence to match. Ryan will make an immediate impact for us because he's not only coached our defense but also played in it. The fact that he's branched off and learned new techniques and schemes during his career will only make us better. I can't wait for our linebackers to work with him because I know they will take huge strides in their development under his guidance."
"Coach Narduzzi has had an incredible impact on me as a student-athlete, football coach and as a person," Manalac said. "I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. The University of Pittsburgh is a special place. Pitt football is an outstanding program. I am excited to get started."
Manalac spent the past two years at Bucknell, which had its 2020 season cancelled due to the pandemic. In 2019, Bucknell's defense ranked among the very best in Patriot League play, finishing first in sacks (32), turnovers gained (14) and defensive touchdowns (four). The Bison ranked second in total defense (319.7 avg.) and rushing defense (96.3 avg.).
Manalac's unit produced six total defensive TDs to lead the Football Championship Subdivision. The Bison's 37 overall sacks ranked fifth nationally.
He also coached the Bucknell linebackers and had three players named to Phil Steele's All-Patriot League team, including first-team selection Simeon Page, who paced the Bison in sacks (nine) and tackles for loss (12.5).
Manalac was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Ohio Dominican University during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. During that two-year span, ODU surrendered just 15.9 points per game in conference play, the lowest average in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Ten Ohio Dominican defensive players earned first team all-conference under his watch. Linebacker Ross Thompson was named the G-MAC Defensive Player of the Year after compiling a school-record 110 tackles. Thompson finished his career as ODU's all-time tackles leader with 294 stops.
Manalac earned his first full-time coaching appointment in 2016 at Valparaiso, overseeing the linebackers.
At Michigan State from 2011-15, Manalac served as a graduate assistant on both sides of the ball and also worked with special teams, recruiting and video. During his tenure, the Spartans achieved four Top 10 finishes, four bowl victories, two Big Ten championships and a berth in the 2015 College Football Playoff.
Manalac worked directly under Narduzzi with Michigan State's defense during the 2012 and 2014 seasons. At the conclusion of each of those campaigns, the Spartans ranked among college football's finest defensive units.
The 2014 team won the Cotton Bowl and finished with an 11-2 record behind a defense that led the nation in fewest rushing yards allowed (88.5 avg.) and finished eighth in fewest total yards allowed (315.8 avg.).
Initially a walk-on at Cincinnati, Manalac would earn a scholarship and four letters for the Bearcats. He compiled nearly 200 tackles during his career and was a starting linebacker his final two seasons. As a senior, he collected a team-high 82 stops to help Cincinnati win the 2008 Big East title and advance to the Orange Bowl.
Manalac, who was honored with Cincinnati's prestigious C-Club Strothman Award for academic and athletic excellence, went on to sign with the Buffalo Bills.
A native of Pickerington, Ohio, Manalac and his wife, Carly, have two children: daughter Bailey and son Lewis. He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Cincinnati (2008) and additionally owns a master's degree in kinesiology from Michigan State (2012).
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Manalac's arrival at Pitt serves as a reunion with Narduzzi. The pair previously worked together when Narduzzi was defensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Michigan State.
"As long as I've known Ryan, as both a player and a coach, he's always been the type of person who simply puts his head down and gets right to work," Narduzzi said. "He's relentless in his work ethic and has an intelligence to match. Ryan will make an immediate impact for us because he's not only coached our defense but also played in it. The fact that he's branched off and learned new techniques and schemes during his career will only make us better. I can't wait for our linebackers to work with him because I know they will take huge strides in their development under his guidance."
"Coach Narduzzi has had an incredible impact on me as a student-athlete, football coach and as a person," Manalac said. "I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. The University of Pittsburgh is a special place. Pitt football is an outstanding program. I am excited to get started."
Manalac spent the past two years at Bucknell, which had its 2020 season cancelled due to the pandemic. In 2019, Bucknell's defense ranked among the very best in Patriot League play, finishing first in sacks (32), turnovers gained (14) and defensive touchdowns (four). The Bison ranked second in total defense (319.7 avg.) and rushing defense (96.3 avg.).
Manalac's unit produced six total defensive TDs to lead the Football Championship Subdivision. The Bison's 37 overall sacks ranked fifth nationally.
He also coached the Bucknell linebackers and had three players named to Phil Steele's All-Patriot League team, including first-team selection Simeon Page, who paced the Bison in sacks (nine) and tackles for loss (12.5).
Manalac was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Ohio Dominican University during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. During that two-year span, ODU surrendered just 15.9 points per game in conference play, the lowest average in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Ten Ohio Dominican defensive players earned first team all-conference under his watch. Linebacker Ross Thompson was named the G-MAC Defensive Player of the Year after compiling a school-record 110 tackles. Thompson finished his career as ODU's all-time tackles leader with 294 stops.
Manalac earned his first full-time coaching appointment in 2016 at Valparaiso, overseeing the linebackers.
At Michigan State from 2011-15, Manalac served as a graduate assistant on both sides of the ball and also worked with special teams, recruiting and video. During his tenure, the Spartans achieved four Top 10 finishes, four bowl victories, two Big Ten championships and a berth in the 2015 College Football Playoff.
Manalac worked directly under Narduzzi with Michigan State's defense during the 2012 and 2014 seasons. At the conclusion of each of those campaigns, the Spartans ranked among college football's finest defensive units.
The 2014 team won the Cotton Bowl and finished with an 11-2 record behind a defense that led the nation in fewest rushing yards allowed (88.5 avg.) and finished eighth in fewest total yards allowed (315.8 avg.).
Initially a walk-on at Cincinnati, Manalac would earn a scholarship and four letters for the Bearcats. He compiled nearly 200 tackles during his career and was a starting linebacker his final two seasons. As a senior, he collected a team-high 82 stops to help Cincinnati win the 2008 Big East title and advance to the Orange Bowl.
Manalac, who was honored with Cincinnati's prestigious C-Club Strothman Award for academic and athletic excellence, went on to sign with the Buffalo Bills.
A native of Pickerington, Ohio, Manalac and his wife, Carly, have two children: daughter Bailey and son Lewis. He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Cincinnati (2008) and additionally owns a master's degree in kinesiology from Michigan State (2012).
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