The Eastern football team is losing another member of its coaching staff that took the Panthers to an 8-4 record and a Division I-AA playoff game.

A year after coming to Eastern as the defensive line coach, Charlie Partridge is making a move to the Pittsburgh Panthers to be a defensive ends coach.

Partridge, a native of Plantation, Fla., said despite being at Eastern for only a short time, he was grateful to get to work with head coach Bob Spoo and defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni.

“The first thing about coach Spoo is that he is a very high quality coach and his leadership is evident in the success that he has had,” Partridge said. “Coach Bellantoni is the one that brought me here and I can’t be more grateful for that.”

Partridge is seen by his players as someone they can relate to and appreciate the excitement he brought to practice.

“We liked him the day he walked in,” junior defensive tackle Damien McCottrell said. “We formed a bond right away. I felt like he was one of my peers, but I had great respect for him as a coach as well.”

Partridge will be joining sixth-year coach Walter Harris and an experienced football team that finished the 2002 season 9-4 and beat Oregon State 38-13 in the Insight Bowl on Dec. 26. The Panthers also played the Miami Hurricanes closely in a 28-21 loss.

“They are very close to competing for a national championship,” Partridge said. “The tradition is breathtaking.”

Partridge is excited to get to work with some of the players Pitt has to offer such as defensive end Claude Harriott.

“(Harriott) is the one that jumps out at you with the accolades that he has already received,” Partridge said.

Harriott finished last season with 50 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks.

Partridge will miss the players he had at Eastern and will remember his time spent here.

“It’s been short, but it’s been a wonderful opportunity for both me and my wife,” Partridge said. “I will dearly miss the players that I coached here.”