Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads was at one of the low points in his career after the Panthers' 48-45 double-overtime loss Oct. 10 to Navy.

The Panthers' defense had given up 126 points in a three-game stretch, the team was mired in a four-game losing streak and calls for his dismissal seemed to be getting louder by the day.

But as Rhoads searched for the answer to why Pitt's defense wasn't playing better, he remembered something his father, Cecil, a high school football coaching legend in Iowa, told him early in his career. It was about the need to continue to grow and adapt as coach.

Paul Rhoads
Pitt defensive coordinator

As a result, the younger Rhoads has made some changes in his approach and in his attitude. And not only has the defense played much better in the past three games, but his job also has been more enjoyable for the past month. And he's convinced the two outcomes are tied together.

"I remember way back when my dad told a group of football coaches that 'I don't think you really become a good football coach until you are in your 50s,' " said Rhoads, 40.

"My ego didn't want to hear it because I thought I was already a good coach, but the elder and wiser coaches agreed with him. It is something I have never forgotten and I have appreciated more and more every year that I am in the profession."

Instead of browbeating the players for their mistakes against Navy, Rhoads began encouraging them and pushing them with positive reinforcement.

"As the season has gone on, I've realized, like my dad said, that you never really stop learning," he said. "One thing I did was make a conscious effort after the Navy game to coach and teach more positive throughout the week, and the team has benefited by that.

"And as a coach, you want to make sure the kids have the right mind-set. I believe that is one thing we've done to positively affect their mind-set going into these last three football games."

Although the defense has responded for the past three games, Rhoads, who is in his eighth season as the Panthers' defensive coordinator, still has a legion of critics who think it is time for head coach Dave Wannstedt to find another coordinator.

They cite the Panthers' struggles on defense in the past few years and last year's collapse -- the team lost its final five games and gave up 1,621 yards of offense and 139 points in the final three -- as well as this year's struggles as evidence his system is not working.

But Wannstedt doesn't see it that way. He concurs that the defense has played well in the three games since the Navy debacle. He talks about the defense's lofty rankings in certain categories: The Panthers are 17th in NCAA Division I-A in total defense and 13th in pass defense.

"If I didn't think a coach on our staff could help get this Pitt program to where we want it to be, he would no be here. It is that simple," Wannstedt said.

"And as a head coach, you have to step back and look at situation thoughtfully and rationally and not respond to what is being said or what is being written or shouted from the stands. Instead [you] take a look at who is doing the right things, who is a part of the solution and who is not.

"And I had no reservations about Paul Rhoads last year when the defense was struggling and I feel stronger about him and his abilities now than I did when I initially hired him. He's a good coach and he's been an excellent teacher and mentor for our players."

Rhoads insists he has never focused on the criticism or let it distract him from what he is trying to accomplish because he believes in what he is doing.

More important, his commitment to become and remain more positive in his approach has enabled him to begin to enjoy the little things that make his job enjoyable and help him become a better coach.

"I am having a blast right now. It is a lot of fun to work with these kids" Rhoads said. "As many hours as we put in right now, the lack of success can be frustrating. But when you are in a meeting or on the practice field and you see a 19-year old looking into you because he is hanging on what you are going to say and it is going to have an effect on how he plays, that is a lot of fun. That's what you love about coaching.

"I really think in turning up the positive switch. It has made my job more enjoyable. I haven't become any less demanding, or less vocal or less demonstrative, but I have become more positive and I think I've learned that as you demand perfection, you must also understand deep down that there is also reality and somewhere in between is what you are fighting for."