Pat Narduzzi Position: Defensive Coordinator Experience: Third Year

Pat Narduzzi is in his third year as defensive coordinator at Michigan State.

The Spartan defense featured several playmakers in 2008, as Narduzzi tutored six players on the defensive side of the ball to All-Big Ten honors. MSU placed two players - linebacker Greg Jones and safety Otis Wiley - on the All-Big Ten first team, marking the first time since 2000 that the Spartans have had two defensive first-team selections in the same season. Jones, who led the Big Ten during conference play in tackles, was the first Spartan linebacker in seven years to garner first-team All-Big Ten accolades. Wiley anchored the Spartan secondary and ranked among the league leaders in interceptions (4) and passes defended (11). MSU's defensive line, which featured three honorable mention selections, included seniors Justin Kershaw and Brandon Long, who both recorded career highs in sacks and tackles for loss.

Michigan State's defense saw marked improvement in 2007 under Narduzzi's direction. The Spartans recorded 40 sacks, 24 more than it produced the entire 2006 season. In fact, the 40 sacks were the third-highest total in MSU single-season history and exceeded the Spartans' combined sack totals for the previous two seasons (32). The Spartans ranked fourth in the Big Ten (tied) and No. 14 in the NCAA, averaging 3.08 sacks a game. By comparison, the Spartans finished 10th in the conference and No. 103 nationally in sacks in 2006, averaging just 1.33 per game. MSU also finished third in the conference and 11th in the nation in tackles for loss with 7.69 per game. In addition, MSU ranked fourth in the Big Ten and 30th nationally in rushing defense (125.8 yards per game). Three Spartans garnered All-Big Ten accolades on the defensive side of the ball, including first-team selection (defensive end) Jonal Saint-Dic, who set a Big Ten single-season record and led the nation with eight forced fumbles. Defensive end Ervin Baldwin led the team with 18.5 tackles for losses, the second-best total in school history, and was taken in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. Jones proved to be one of the top newcomers in the country, earning consensus Freshman All-America honors after leading the team with 78 tackles.

Narduzzi, who served as Mark Dantonio's defensive coordinator all three years at Cincinnati, developed a solid defensive unit during his tenure with the Bearcats.

In 2006, Cincinnati ranked among the national leaders during the regular season in tackles for loss (No. 21 at 6.8 per game), pass efficiency defense (No. 23 at 109.3 rating), rushing defense (No. 27 at 107.5 ypg.), total defense (No. 31 at 304.3 ypg.), scoring defense (No. 34 at 19.3 ppg.) and sacks (No. 34 at 2.3 pg.). UC held seven of its 12 opponents to less than 100 yards rushing, highlighted by performances of 36 yards each in back-to-back games against Miami-Ohio and Akron. In UC's 30-11 win over then-No. 7 Rutgers on Nov. 18, the Bearcats held the nation's No. 20 rushing offense to a season-low 50 yards on the ground, and held the nation's No. 3 rusher, Ray Rice, to a season-low 54 yards. Middle linebacker Kevin McCullough led the team in tackles and ranked fifth in the BIG EAST with 13.5 tackles for loss. Defensive end Trevor Anderson ranked sixth in the BIG EAST in both tackles for loss (13.0) and sacks (6.0).

In his first season as defensive coordinator at UC in 2004, Narduzzi constructed the defense which led the Bearcats to a runner-up finish in Conference USA and a victory in the Fort Worth Bowl. The secondary ranked 26th in the nation and first in C-USA in pass defense. The Bearcats also ranked second in C-USA and 38th nationally in total defense, and third in the conference in scoring defense and pass efficiency defense. Three Bearcat defenders from that team: Trent Cole, Tyjuan Hagler and Daven Holly, were taken in the NFL Draft, while six others earned all-league recognition. UC's 2005 defense had as many as eight first-year freshman starters, and Narduzzi helped groom two of them, Mike Mickens and Corey Smith, to second-team All-BIG EAST and Freshman All-America honors.

Prior to his arrival in Cincinnati, Narduzzi was the architect of the Miami-Ohio defense in 2003 which helped the RedHawks to a No. 10 finish in the national polls, a Mid-American Conference championship and a win over Louisville in the GMAC Bowl. Miami-Ohio ranked first in the MAC in rushing defense (19th nationally), scoring defense (22nd nationally) and pass efficiency defense (34th nationally). The RedHawks also ranked second in the MAC and 35th nationally in total defense. Narduzzi previously helped Northern Illinois to a pair of MAC divisional titles during his three seasons in DeKalb (2000-02) as linebackers coach. In 2002, the Huskies had the league's stingiest defense against the run and were ranked 38th nationally. Narduzzi coached with offensive line coach Dan Roushar for three seasons while he was at NIU.

Narduzzi, who has compiled 19 seasons of coaching experience, began his career at Miami-Ohio in 1990, serving two seasons as a graduate assistant and one as a receivers coach in 1992.

In 1993, he started a seven-year tenure at Rhode Island, and served as defensive coordinator from 1998-99. Narduzzi and Roushar also crossed paths at Rhode Island for one season (1993), when Narduzzi was coaching linebackers and Roushar was coaching the offensive line.

A Youngstown, Ohio, native, Narduzzi earned all-state football honors at Ursuline High School. He played for his father Bill Narduzzi at Youngstown State as a freshman in 1985 and led the Ohio Valley Conference in tackles. Narduzzi then transferred to Rhode Island and became a three-year starter linebacker for the Rams from 1987-89.

Narduzzi completed his bachelor's degree in physical education at Rhode Island in 1990 and later earned a master's degree in sports psychology at Miami-Ohio in 1992. Narduzzi and his wife Donna have four children: Arianna, Christina, Patrick and Isabella.

THE NARDUZZI FILE

YEARS AT MICHIGAN STATE: Third. Joined staff on Dec. 6, 2006, from Cincinnati.

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: College - Graduate assistant coach (1990-91) and receivers coach (1992) at Miami-Ohio; linebackers (1993-97) and defensive coordinator (1998-99) at Rhode Island; linebackers coach at Northern Illinois (2000-02); defensive coordinator at Miami-Ohio (2003); defensive coordinator at Cincinnati (2004-06).

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in physical education from Rhode Island in 1990; master's degree in sports psychology from Miami-Ohio in 1992.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE: College - Three-year starter at linebacker at Rhode Island (1987-89); one year at linebacker at Youngstown State (1985).

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: Coach - 2003 GMAC Bowl, 2004 Fort Worth Bowl, 2007 Champs Sports Bowl, 2009 Capital One Bowl.