In a move that has been rumored for days, Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi officially will be named Pitt’s new football coach Friday.

The school called a news conference for 3:30 p.m. today to “address its head football coaching vacancy,” at which point Narduzzi will be introduced as the next coach, according to a source close to the program.

He will be Pitt’s fifth full-time coach in the past seven years.

Narduzzi has a tremendous reputation as a defensive coach after eight years with the Spartans. During that time, he built one of the nation’s best defenses. Michigan State ranked in the top 10 of Division I-A in total defense each of the past four seasons.

He won the 2013 Broyles Award as the nation’s best assistant coach.

Over the past few seasons, it seemed like only a matter of time before Narduzzi left the Spartans for a head coaching job. He was named the team’s assistant head coach in 2013, and Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio spoke openly about preparing Narduzzi to become a head coach at a top program.

He had entertained overtures in the past, turning down the Connecticut job last year and reportedly removing himself from consideration for the Colorado State job this offseason to focus on the Pitt job.

He has connections to the Pittsburgh area after growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, when his father, Bill, was the football coach at Youngstown State from 1975-85. He played one season at Youngstown State before transferring to Rhode Island, where he graduated and later became an assistant coach.

Narduzzi will inherit a defense that struggled mightily at times this season, giving up 25.6 points per game. The Panthers were at their worst in a three-game stretch against Georgia Tech, Duke and North Carolina, three losses in which they gave up an average of 49 points per game.

On offense, Narduzzi will step into a situation that seems primed for success. Running back James Conner, the ACC’s player of the year, will return after rushing for 1,675 yards and a school-record 24 touchdowns in the regular season. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd and quarterback Chad Voytik also return, along with an offensive line that improved in skill and depth over the season.

From an administrative standpoint, Narduzzi’s situation is a bit less clear. Pitt chancellor Patrick Gallagher fired athletic director Steve Pederson last week, and interim athletic director Randy Juhl said the search to find his replacement likely won’t start in earnest until January.

Regardless, executive vice chancellor Jerry Cochran, the chair of the search committee that hired Narduzzi, said Gallagher was going to be involved in the hiring of the athletic director.

It’s unclear whether Narduzzi will take over the reins at Pitt immediately or after Michigan State plays Baylor Jan. 1 in the Cotton Bowl.