In an expected move, but one that won’t necessarily make all Pitt Panthers fans happy, the program made it official Tuesday afternoon- athletic director Steve Pederson isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Pederson received a five-year contract extension that will keep him in his present position through the 2017-2018 academic year, Chancellor Mark Nordenberg said Tuesday.
He’s not the most popular guy on campus, but Pederson has done a lot in his time at Pitt, most recently helping the Panthers move from a dying Big East Conference to the greener pastures of the ACC.
Most Pitt athletic programs have undergone major changes under Pederson, who is on his second stint as Pitt’s athletic director. He previously held the position from 1996-2002 before leaving to spend five years in the same position at his alma mater Nebraska.
Upon his return in 2007, the Pitt football and basketball teams have prospered, although it hasn’t necessarily shown up in wins and losses.
The football team in particular was in possibly the worst shape it has ever been in when Pederson arrived in 1996. Since then they have moved to Heinz Field, which hasn’t been the most popular of his decisions and despite not being able to break through in the Big East, has at least reached several bowl games over the course of the past decade.
However, he was also instrumental in raising the funds for the Petersen Events Center, which not only hosted one of the best Big East basketball teams in the Big east, but has turned into one of the best home court advantages in the country.
Despite that, Pederson isn’t liked among many Pitt fans, mostly due to the fact that neither of the Panthers major programs has had the success needed in terms of winning the big one.
But Pederson also has been instrumental in raising funds for the Panthers Club that subsidizes scholarships for student-athletes and the $29 million Petersen Sports Complex, which houses baseball, softball and soccer fields on the upper reaches of the campus in Oakland.
Despite his lack of popularity, you can make the case that Pitt athletics have never been in a better position.
Like him or not, Pederson is going to be around a bit longer.
Hopefully in that time the Pitt athletic programs will become successful on the field as well.
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