University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Priefer to Bring Longtime NFL Experience to Pitt
1/13/2026 10:00:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Head Coach Pat Narduzzi has made the addition of Mike Priefer to his coaching staff official. Priefer joins Pitt as the program's special teams coordinator.
"I've known Mike for a long time and have a tremendous amount of respect for him and his résumé," said Narduzzi. "He's coached at the highest levels of football and understands how critical the special teams phase is to winning games. He's a tremendous teacher, and his leadership will have an immediate impact on our entire team."
Priefer comes to Pitt after serving as special teams coordinator at North Carolina during the 2025 season.
A veteran of more than 30 years in coaching, Priefer spent 17 seasons as an NFL special teams coordinator with the Chiefs, Broncos, Vikings and Browns, earning NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year honors in 2008. His units accounted for 42 touchdowns and 20 blocked kicks, while producing multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro performers.
Priefer made NFL history in 2021 as the first acting head coach to win a playoff game, leading Cleveland to an AFC Wild Card victory. At the collegiate level, he has coached special teams at Navy, Youngstown State, VMI and Northern Illinois, contributing to Youngstown State's 1997 national championship.
A Naval Academy graduate and former naval officer, Priefer and his wife, Debbie, have four children and two grandchildren.
