Football: Bennett, not Wannstedt to coach bowl game

Former Pitt head football coach Dave Wannstedt announced Monday that he will not coach the team… Former Pitt head football coach Dave Wannstedt announced Monday that he will not coach the team in its BBVA Compass Bowl game on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.

Defensive coordinator Phil Bennett will lead the Panthers from the sideline in the game against Kentucky.

Wannstedt believed his presence at the game would create a distraction to his players and said he made his decision with their best interest in mind.

“I step aside today with my head high, my pride intact, my love for the city and most importantly love for these players and this University stronger than it’s ever been,” he said in a press conference.

Wannstedt and his staff have been rigorously preparing the team for the game over the course of the past couple weeks, but the former head coach didn’t want his presence at the game to take away from the players’ experience.

“Ultimately, the focus and attention for the next few days should be on the players who are here,” he said.  “The focus and attention should not be on their coach who will not be coaching.”

Bennett previously served as a head coach at Southern Methodist University from 2002-07 after serving as the defensive coordinator at schools such as Purdue, Texas A&M and Iowa State before joining the Panthers.

“I need to give the proper direction and guide this ship in the right manner to game day,” Bennett said in a press conference Monday. “Manage the game well and find a way to win this game; and then hand it off to whoever they end up hiring.”

“We are fortunate to have someone with Phil’s talents available to assume this role,” Pitt Athletic Director Steve Pederson said in a news release.