Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi has interviewed for head coaching jobs at Pitt and Colorado State, a source told MLive.

Narduzzi, also the Spartans' assistant head coach, interviewed with Colorado State earlier in the week and with Pittsburgh on Friday, according to a source in the Michigan State athletic department speaking on the condition of anonymity.

There have been previous reports of Narduzzi interviewing: Pittsburgh KDKA-TV sports anchor Rich Walsh tweeted the Panthers' would interview Narduzzi along with Marshall coach Doc Holliday, and Scout.com reported Colorado State interviewed Narduzzi.

It's no secret that the 48-year-old Narduzzi has aspirations to become a head coach and that other programs have expressed interest in him.

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio, who will wrap up the East Lansing portion of Cotton Bowl preparations on Saturday morning, said earlier this week that Narduzzi will be prepared when the right offer comes along and that the Spartans will be prepared to replace him should he leave.

Athletic director Mark Hollis said the Spartans have assigned Narduzzi some tasks associated with the head coaching position to better prepare him when his opportunity arises.

Narduzzi is the highest paid coordinator in the Big Ten, with a three-year guaranteed contract worth more than $900,000 annually.

Narduzzi said earlier this week his focus would be on preparing Michigan State for Baylor's No. 1-ranked offense in the Jan. 1 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium, though he did say that when a program has had the success the Spartans have enjoyed it was only natural there would be opportunities.

Narduzzi turned down the Connecticut head coaching job last year, and Louisville also showed interest before hiring Bobby Petrino, and the year before he was a candidate for the Cincinnati job before veteran Tommy Tuberville became an 11th-hour candidate.

Attempts to reach Narduzzi Friday night were unsuccessful.