Pederson returns to Pittsburgh as AD
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By The Lincoln Journal Star
Lincoln Journal Star
Welcome back, Steve Pederson.
Six weeks after being fired at Nebraska, Pederson returned to college athletics Friday morning in the very same place that he left five years ago.
Pederson was reintroduced as Pittsburgh’s athletic director at a news conference.
"I am grateful to Chancellor Nordenberg for the opportunity to again be part of this great university, city and region," Pederson said in a statement.
"Leaving here five years ago was the hardest professional decision of my life,” he added. “Coming back was the easiest. As great as the past has been at Pitt, the future is even brighter."
Pederson was Pitt’s AD from 1996 to 2002 before leaving for Nebraska.
"For six exciting years, Steve Pederson led the University of Pittsburgh through a period of unprecedented progress in intercollegiate athletics," Pitt chancellor Mark Nordenberg said. "In my judgment, and this assessment is shared by countless others, Steve Pederson is one of this country's most talented and accomplished athletic directors, and I am very pleased that he is returning to Pitt."
His hiring by NU in December 2002 was heralded at the time, but was later questioned after Pederson fired head football coach Frank Solich, whose team went 9-3 in 2003, and during a 41-day search to replace him.
Pederson eventually hired Bill Callahan and much-needed facility upgrades were completed on his watch. Nebraska reached the Big 12 championship game last season, and in July, Pederson’s original 5½-year contract was extended through July 2013 with an annual salary of $500,000 guaranteed.
However, Nebraska’s football fortunes dropped, and on Oct. 15, two days after NU suffered its worst home loss in football in nearly 50 years, Pederson was fired by chancellor Harvey Perlman.
To fulfill the terms of his contract, Nebraska paid Pederson a lump sum of $2,237,409.64 on Oct. 31.
In his news conference Friday, Pederson said Nebraska will always remain a special place in the hearts of his family.
“You know, the way the internet is today, this morning between 10 o’clock and noon, I’ve already heard from quite a few of them how excited for us and happy for us — and I miss them.
“I wish them the very, very best of success in the future.”
Pederson said he was proud of what was accomplished at Nebraska during his tenure. He mentioned facility improvements, academic achievements, the volleyball team’s NCAA championship and the football team’s trip to the Cotton Bowl.
“Like, with anything, there are things that didn’t go as well and I certainly would have liked to have had more success on the football field this season,” Pederson added. “That’s all part of the game.
“What I understand is that that’s the business I chose, and I respect that and I understand that. And I’m excited to get moving forward at the University of Pittsburgh. I think all those experiences you.”
Pederson is under no obligation to return any money to Nebraska as a result of landing another job. No terms of his contract at Pitt were immediately available.
Pederson replaces Jeff Long, who left in September to become the AD at Arkansas.
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