Dave Wannstedt

Dave Wannstedt is the head coach for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football team.  Wannstedt is a well-traveled football coach.  Previously, Wannstedt was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins of the NFL from 2000 to 2004, and he coached the Chicago Bears from 1993 to 1998. He also was a long-time assistant to Jimmy Johnson with the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Hurricanes, and Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Wannstedt began his football career in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He won an athletic scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh playing offensive tackle. After a successful career with the Panthers, he was chosen in the 1974 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers, but spent his only NFL season on Injured Reserve with a neck injury.

After numerous years in coaching positions, Wannstedt got his break when Mike Ditka resigned as head coach of the Chicago Bears.  Wannstedt was hired by the Bears in 1993 and was the head coach there for 6 seasons.  After a tumultous career with the Bears, he was fired in 1998.  Two years later he was hired by the Miami Dolphins as their head coach.  His career with the Dolphins was very unstable, and in 2004 the Dolphins decided Wannstedt was not the answer.

Since then, Dave has gone on to become the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh football team.  Wannstedt's determination as a recruiter has college recruiting analysts rating the Panthers' class of 2006 to be one of the premier recruiting classes in the country.