ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Some Pittsburgh fans had held out hope that former head coach Walt Harris would rejoin the staff as Dave Wannstedt's new offensive coordinator. Not going to happen.

Harris took a job today as Akron's quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.

In reporting that move, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Paul Zeise also mentions that Wannstedt now appears to be looking at California offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. to replace Matt Cavanaugh. Cignetti has some significant ties to the area as his father was a coach at West Virginia. He also played for his dad at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Zeise, who reported last week that New York Jets receivers coach Noel Mazzone was the leading candidate, says now that Mazzone's chances are fading.

Panthers fans have been clamoring for someone who will open up the offense and be less conservative, and Cignetti certainly appears to fit that bill. Before being named Cal's playcaller in 2008, he was the offensive coordinator at Fresno State for four years. His offenses finished among the top 10 in scoring twice in that time. In 2008, Cal averaged 32.6 points per game.

Of course, Cignetti also coaches under an offensive-minded head coach, as Jeff Tedford served as his own offensive coordinator until last season. That means that he might not be fully in charge of the offense at Cal; if so, perhaps he'd be receptive to having more control at Pitt.