Cory Sanders makes his mark as Pitt’s new defensive coordinator

With the 2025 Pitt football season officially over, the team is gearing up for its future.

Included in the events ramping up to spring are the introductory press conferences for new players, both first-year and transfer players. This week marked the first of the cycle, as Pitt’s defensive players and new defensive coordinator Cory Sanders took the stand to speak on the future. 

Sanders has been the team’s secondary coach since 2018, receiving a promotion when former coordinator Randy Bates announced his retirement. Sanders made sure to make the most of his appearance, speaking on his goals, philosophy and outlook on the team. 

“To be here for the past eight years, and for that opportunity to present itself, it’s exciting,” Sanders said. “Not to say overwhelmed, but at that moment, it is an overwhelming feeling. At the same time, then your mind sort of resets to like, OK, now this is what we’ve got to do here moving forward.”

Sanders then focused on his day-to-day operations and how he believes working with his coaches will help the team’s success.

“Reality is, we’re in there every single day together, going through what this looks like, these checks. Is this best? Is that best? Then we walk out of that room, and we’re all aligned,” Sanders said. “On Saturdays, I’m the one calling [the defense], but at the end of the day, we’re all helping coordinate and put this thing together and structure this thing out the right way for the success of these kids.”

Sanders then had an emotional moment, expressing his passion for the team and the group of both coaches and players he will work with for the future. 

“You can’t take for granted being in a great place and a great situation that you’re happy with,” Sanders said. “I just want to be the best d— defense coordinator in the country right now and make these guys better. That’s my goal.”

Regardless of overall team performance throughout the last couple years, the one aspect that has remained relatively the same is a strong culture that the players and coaches have consistently bought into. Players are dedicated to the team regardless of whether the team has four wins or nine wins, leading to some talents staying here when they would have transferred, and Pitt having a high output of professional players under head coach Pat Narduzzi.
Sanders seems set on continuing to grow the culture that he helped to build in his first eight years with the team. Now, he will get more control over that defense as a coordinator.

The offseason is far from over for the Pitt football team, with interviews with the offensive newcomers and plenty of practice to come. With that said, Sanders has the defense on the right track heading into the next stretch of Pitt football.