PITTSBURGH — Longtime Pittsburgh assistant football coach Bob Junko is taking a leave from his on-field responsibilities to continue his recovery from offseason heart surgery.

Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt announced the move Wednesday.

Junko underwent surgery in February and worked on a limited basis the last six months. Although he will step away from day-to-day coaching, Junko will continue to serve in administrative capacities. He became recruiting coordinator after working with Pitt's defensive tackles when he returned to Pitt in 1997. He also was an assistant coach from 1982-85 and was the Panthers' chief recruiter in western Pennsylvania.

Veteran coach Charlie Taaffe will replace Junko and work with the offense.

"Coach Taaffe's responsibilities will become more defined as we work through it," Wannstedt said. "But he'll obviously be working with the offense, because that's where his expertise is."

Junko, who began his second stint at Pitt when Walt Harris was named coach in 1997, added assistant head coach to his resume a few years ago and maintained a working relationship with defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads this year.

"I feel fortunate to say that I've made great strides in my recovery since the surgery," Junko said in a statement. "However, I felt my family and our football program would be best served if I stepped away from daily coaching duties and continued to focus on mending fully."

Junko did not comment publicly on the surgery or his recovery in the past six months.

Taaffe and Wannstedt have a long history.

"We worked some camps together when we both started coaching 25, 30 years ago," Wannstedt said.