Wannstedt Resigns at Pitt

By Justin Worsley,

Congratulations, Dave Wannstedt coaching the University of Pittsburgh to their first Big East title since 2004. Now, it will cost you your job.

The university announced on Tuesday that Wannstedt will resign from his position as head coach after the Panthers finished 7-5, failing to meet expectations in a weak Big East conference this season.

Wannstedt, 58, will remain on the program as a special assistant to the school's athletic director, Steve Pederson.

Wannstedt, a former offensive lineman for the school, felt pressure from the organization to resign and Pitt wanted to change head coaches now instead of after their minor bowl game, the Compass Bowl against Kentucky (6-6), so that they are able to obtain one of the top candidates available as well as have a system set up for national letter-of-intent day, which is Feb. 2.

The Panthers went 42-31 under Wannstedt and 1-1 in postseason play. Between 2008-10, Pitt went 26-12. Only the Dan Marino-led Panthers, who went 33-3, had a better record in three seasons.

Wannstedt was also a head coach for the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins in the NFL.

The Panthers also struggled against their rivals under Wannstedt. West Virginia went 4-2 in the Backyard Brawl while Cincinnati won their first two River City Rivalry games.

No coach has been named yet for the Compass Bowl.