PITTSBURGH — New Pitt coach Paul Chryst doesn’t view himself one of those football nerds who takes pleasure in designing elaborately detailed offenses that take years to learn. His job is to get his players to go out on the field and do their thing.

Not prove how smart he is.

“I never want the system to be the thing that keeps you from playing well,” Chryst said.

Which may explain why he’s winning over the Panthers so quickly.

Nearly two months after taking over for Todd Graham — he of the “high octane offense” and 338-day stay in Pittsburgh before bolting for Arizona State— Chryst’s refreshing bluntness has caught on quickly. There have been zero transfer requests, proof players burned by Graham’s stunning and graceless departure are eager to give the new guy a chance.

Then again, Chryst is quick to note he hasn’t talked much football with the Panthers. Instead, the individual sessions he’s had with players have focused more on the personal side. He is well aware he’s the program’s fourth coach in barely over a year, and knows he’ll need more than a quick chat to earn his players’ trust.

“Your actions have to match your words and they have to do it consistently over time,” he said.