Pitt Hires Son of Special Teams Coordinator as Assistant Coach

Mike Priefer Jr. returns to the Panthers' staff after serving as a grad assistant and working at other colleges.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Pitt has hired Mike Priefer Jr. as an assistant special teams coach and to work with the Star linebacker position. Priefer Jr. is the son of new Pitt special teams coordinator Mike Priefer Sr. and previously spent three seasons as a defensive grad assistant on the Panthers' staff from 2019-2021.

Why it matters

The hiring of Priefer Jr. reunites a father-son coaching duo and brings back a familiar face to Pitt's coaching staff. Priefer Jr. has experience working with special teams and linebackers, which should help strengthen those areas for the Panthers.

The details

After his initial stint at Pitt, Priefer Jr. served as a special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Northwood University, then worked at Western Illinois, Kentucky, and Incarnate Word in various special teams and quality control roles. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi and Priefer Sr. had to convince Priefer Jr. to return to the Panthers, as he was considered an up-and-coming young coach at his previous stops.

  • Priefer Jr. was a defensive grad assistant at Pitt from 2019-2021.
  • He then worked at Northwood University, Western Illinois, Kentucky, and Incarnate Word from 2022-2025.

The players

Mike Priefer Sr.

The new special teams coordinator for the Pitt Panthers and the father of Mike Priefer Jr.

Mike Priefer Jr.

The new assistant special teams coach and Star linebacker position coach for the Pitt Panthers, who is the son of Mike Priefer Sr.

Pat Narduzzi

The head coach of the Pitt Panthers, who convinced Priefer Jr. to return to the team's coaching staff.

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What they’re saying

“He's a great young coach, and he'll probably do my job for me. He's really good at what he does.”

— Mike Priefer Sr., Pitt Special Teams Coordinator (on3.com)

“We had to convince him to come here. He was the special teams coordinator, outside linebacker coach, associate head coach, head coach there really liked him down there. He's an up-and-coming young head coach. So, we had to convince him this was the right job for him. So, he debated it for a while, but I'm glad he's here, cuz he's gonna do a great job on special teams and on defense, and just be great for our players.”

— Mike Priefer Sr., Pitt Special Teams Coordinator (on3.com)

What’s next

Priefer Jr. will look to make an immediate impact on Pitt's special teams and linebacker units as he reunites with his father on the coaching staff.

The takeaway

The hiring of Mike Priefer Jr. as an assistant coach at Pitt represents a homecoming for the young coach and a chance to work alongside his father, who is the team's new special teams coordinator. This father-son coaching duo will aim to strengthen Pitt's special teams and linebacker play in the upcoming season.