Former Miami Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt changed his mind and agreed to become coach of the University of Pittsburgh football team starting next season. Wannstedt is an alumnus of the University and also once held an assistant coaching position there. He has never been a head coach at a Division One college.

Just one week ago, Wannstedt told Pitt athletic director Jeff Long that he was not ready to return to coaching after struggling through the Dolphins 1-8 start this season. However, it became clear that Wannstedt was the man the Panthers wanted to coach the team and after a subsequent meeting later this week, he agreed to take the job after Long agreed to increase the salaries for his assistant coaches next season.

Wannstedt had coached the Chicago Bears from 1993-1999 before taking over as coach of the Dolphins. Prior to being a head coach, he served as an assistant coach on the Dallas Cowboys during their Super Bowl years. Wannstedt led Miami to two ten win seasons but saw the team fall apart this year when star running back Ricky Williams announced his retirement a week before the start of training camp allegedly due to a failed drug test. Wannstedt's overall record with the Dolphins was 43-33 including a 10-6 record a year ago.