Ben Mathers leaves Pitt for Michigan State

Pitt will need to embark on a search for a new director of football operations, as Ben Mathers has left the program to rejoin Michigan State’s staff, according to a report from Doug Samuels of Football Scoop. Mathers had served in the role since Narduzzi was hired as Pitt’s coach.

The director of football operations role is described by the university as one of “integral” importance to the program, and during Mathers’ tenure, he was responsible for coordinating travel plans, overseeing the regimens of players and coaches, and establishing long-term training schedules.

Prior to his arrival at Pitt, Mathers served alongside Narduzzi on the Michigan State staff as a graduate assistant from 2012 to 2013 and as an operations assistant in 2014. During his time with the Spartans, he played a key role in recruiting, most notably assisting with social media and event coordination. Mathers graduated from Michigan State in 2011 and is a native of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, which is about 80 miles from East Lansing, so the move will bring him closer to home in addition to reuniting him with his alma mater.

The exact role Mathers will fill at Michigan State was not announced, and it remains unclear who might replace him on the Panthers coaching staff.