Bollinger Out, but Pittsburgh Settle on a Running Backs Coach

May 16, 2013; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson (33) listens to running backs coach John Settle during organized team activities at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Brooks Bollinger, Pittsburgh’s quarterback coach for the last two years, has decided he doesn’t want to live the transient lifestyle of an NCAA coach and has resigned his post after just 2 years. The former NFL and UFL quarterback was with 5 teams in his 8 year pro career, and is no stranger to moving homes, but he has chosen to set up roots for his family.

Bollinger’s pro career may not have been a font of success, but his coaching career showed promise. In 2012, Tino Sunseri was one of the most improved quarterbacks in the country under Bollinger’s tutelage, and getting similar results out of transfer Tom Savage last season.

Bollinger’s replacement may need to be found, but the Panthers picked up a new running back coach in John Settle, another former NFL-player and veteran coach of 20 years.

Settle worked with Pitt coach Paul Chryst at Wisconsin under Bret Bielema from 2006-2010, and the Badgers running attack was regularly one of the best in the nation on his watch. He was hired by Carolina and then Cleveland in the NFL, but found himself out of work when he was let go along with the rest of the Browns staff at the end of the 2013 season.

Settle has also coached at his alma mater Appalachian State, had a prior stint in the NFL with Cleveland and Baltimore, and spent 8 years with Fresno State before his hiring at Wisconsin.

The only vacancy remaining on Chryst’s staff is wide receivers coach, as Bobby Engram was hired by the Ravens.