University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Narduzzi Promotes Sanders to Defensive Coordinator
12/28/2025 10:35:00 AM | Football
Veteran secondary coach elevated after eight seasons with Panthers; served as assistant head coach since 2024
PITTSBURGH— Head Football Coach Pat Narduzzi announced today the promotion of Cory Sanders to defensive coordinator. Sanders, who will enter his ninth season on Pitt's coaching staff in 2026, adds the coordinator role after serving as assistant head coach since 2024. He's worked with the secondary and held positional oversight of the safeties since 2018.
"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."
"I'm incredibly grateful to Coach Narduzzi and the University of Pittsburgh for the trust that's been placed in me," Sanders said. "I also owe a thank you to all the mentors and coaches who helped me get to this point, especially Coach Randy Bates. He and Coach Narduzzi believed in me and hired me eight years ago, and I've learned so much from them. Their leadership and trust helped put me in this position today.
"Pitt has been home for a long time and has meant a great deal to me and my family since the day we arrived," he added. "I'm fired up to continue building on the defensive foundation that's been established here. We'll remain aggressive and put a defense on the field that plays fast, relentless and physical."
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.
Sanders has also developed an impressive pipeline to the NFL, coaching McMillon, Erick Hallett II, Brandon Hill and Damar Hamlin.
Prior to Pitt, he coached defensive backs at Western Michigan (2017), where he saw Sam Beal and Darius Phillips get drafted. Additionally, he served as defensive coordinator at the University of West Florida (2015–16), where his defense ranked among the nation's leaders in sacks and tackles for loss during the program's inaugural season.
Sanders previously spent five seasons at his alma mater, Saint Joseph's (Ind.) College, including four as head coach, leading the Pumas to back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Sanders began his coaching career at North Central College (2007) and Elmhurst College (2008–09).
A four-time all-conference defensive back at Saint Joseph's, Sanders was a three-time team captain and finished his career fifth in school history with 30.5 tackles for loss.
A 2007 graduate of Saint Joseph's, Sanders and his wife, Sofia, have two children: daughter Nisa and son Deen.
