New Pitt coach reaches out to local coaches, recruits

Not long after Todd Graham was introduced as Pitt's new football coach Tuesday, he was on the phone with some WPIAL coaches and players.

One of the coaches Graham spoke with Tuesday night was Woodland Hills coach George Novak. Good move. Woodland Hills produces more Division I college players than any school in the WPIAL.

"I was sleeping on the couch when he called," Novak said with a laugh. "He just wanted to introduce himself and he pretty much talked about what he talked about at his press conference. He just wants an opportunity to prove himself to the coaches in the area."

Graham (pictured at his Pitt news conference) spoke with some WPIAL players also Tuesday night, including Woodland Hills' Lafayette Pitts and Clairton's Desimon Green.

Both players had made verbal commitments to Pitt last summer, but opened up their recruiting when Dave Wannstedt was forced to resign. Green has said it is unlikely he will choose Pitt and is visiting other schools. Pitts will be at Maryland this weekend, and Rutgers next weekend. He also has visited Iowa.

At Maryland and Rutgers, Pittis will be recruited by former Pitt assistant coaches - Greg Gattuso at Maryland, and Jeff Haffley and Frank Cignetti at Rutgers.

"Lafayette opened things up, but he has never said that he was de-committed from Pitt. He just has talked to a lot of other people and is vising some other places," Novak said.