Gottfried Reportedly Fired as Coach at Pitt

University of Pittsburgh Coach Mike Gottfried, who didn’t have a losing season in four years but failed to return Pitt to national football prominence, was fired Thursday, according to athletic department sources.

Gottfried, who feuded with the media and with his own administrators while going 26-17-2 in four seasons, reportedly was fired after he refused Athletic Director Edward Bozik’s request to resign during a meeting Thursday.

Neither Bozik nor Gottfried could be reached for comment, and Pitt officials, in a brief statement, would confirm only that the meeting was held.

There was no word on whether Gottfried, given what was described as a lifetime contract in April, 1988, would coach the No. 23 Panthers (7-3-1) against Texas A&M; in the Dec. 30 John Hancock Bowl, formerly the Sun Bowl, in El Paso.