COULD ANY OF THESE CANDIDATES BE JEFF HALFREY’S REPLACEMENT AT BOSTON COLLEGE?
Just when we thought all the madness in college football head coaching had ceased, another shakeup occurs with now former Boston College football head coach Jeff Hafley leaving for the Green Bay Packers. However, he didn’t leave for another head coaching job; he left to be the new defensive coordinator in Green Bay.
It’s doubtful that Hafley’s departure will have close to the same effect that Nick Saban had when he retired or the subsequent move from Kalen DeBoer from Washington to fill his shoes at Alabama. Still, Hafley’s position resides in a Power Conference in the ACC, so a shakeup of sorts is still likely with multiple teams across the country to be affected.
Hafley had been with the program since 2020 to replace former coach Steve Addazio. In 2023, the Eagles were coming off their best season since 2018, going 7-6 and finishing with a bowl game victory, their first since 2016. But now, where does Boston College football turn?
For a job that hasn’t been the easiest place to win, it might not be the easiest of jobs to fill, or at the very least, not attract well-known coaches. The Eagles haven’t had a double-digit win season since 2007, their last AP top-25 finish, and have won no more than seven since 2009. The program also resides in what is becoming a rather tumultuous and unstable ACC conference.
There will be someone willing to take the challenge in hopes of enhancing their career and proving their worth as a head coach, perhaps using this as a stepping stone job for another in the future. With that said, let’s take a look at who could be potential head coach candidates to become the new Boston College head football coach and Jeff Halfrey’s replacement.
One of the names that continue to surface since Hafley departed has been Al Golden. That’s probably due to Golden being familiar with the territory that included being an assistant at Boston College from 1997-99. His last two head coaching stints were at Temple, where two seasons of eight-plus wins earned him the head job for the Miami Hurricanes. In six seasons in Coral Gables, he went 32-25 during a time when the Hurricanes were suffering through multiple sanctions.
It’s doubtful that Golden would be a favorite for the job, however, as when he was fired from the Hurricanes, he later sued the University of Miami, although unsuccessfully for a breach of contract. The AD then was Blake James, who currently holds the same position at Boston College.
Heading back to Notre Dame, we go with Al Washington, who, according to The Athletic, interviewed for this job the last time it was open. That’s probably because he has close ties to the program, playing for the Eagles from 2002 until 2005 and then becoming an assistant from 2012 to 2016. He’s had time at some big programs since he became a coach, like Michigan, Ohio State, and obviously Notre Dame. He’s also been a part of 247Sports top-10 recruiter rankings in two of the last three years.
It’s somewhat surprising this name hasn’t been floated out there yet, so I guess here at Fuller has spent most of his time around the Southeast area, however, minus his time at Wagner College in his early coaching days. Fuller still could be a sleeper pick for the job.
At this point, Coen could be headed back to the NFL, since he was the Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator before coming back to Kentucky last season. He was a big part of developing now Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis back in 2021, helping Kentucky get to 10-3 that season. He does have some northeast ties coming from Rhode Island and playing at UMass.
Would Dan Mullen finally make his return to college football to coach Boston College? It could perform a similar path to what Mack Brown has done, going from a fired coach to ESPN analyst back to college head coaching. Being a northeast native, this could have some legs if Mullen really wants to get back into coaching.
Mullen had most of his success while he was at Mississippi State, where he finished 69-46 and had five bowl game victories. The pressure became too much for Mullen once he got to Florida, where the expectations took a massive upswing, and eight wins or less wasn’t going to cut it. The expectations and pressure would be nowhere near that of Florida, or Mississippi State either, compared to Boston College.
The Eagles could be making a big change in their coaching staff as they look to replace Jeff Halfrey. One potential option is promoting assistant head coach Rob Chudzinski, who has been with the team since 2020. Chudzinski has an impressive coaching resume, having served as an offensive coordinator for several NFL teams including the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Indianapolis Colts. He even had a stint as head coach for the Browns. With his experience and familiarity with the team, Chudzinski could be a seamless transition for the Eagles.
With the national title game in the rearview mirror, it may be too late for the Eagles to conduct an extensive search for a new coach. In this case, Chudzinski could be the perfect temporary solution for the team. If he performs well in the role, the Eagles could consider signing him on for a longer term.
Another potential candidate for the coaching position is Campanile, who has been linked to NFL coordinator jobs. He previously worked as an assistant coach for Boston College and was highly regarded by his colleagues during his time there. The main challenge for Campanile would be transitioning from the NFL back to college football, especially considering the current landscape of the college game. However, his familiarity with the area and strong recruiting connections could make him a top choice for the Eagles if he decides to pursue the opportunity.
In conclusion, the Eagles have some intriguing options to consider as they search for a new coach. Whether they choose to promote from within with Rob Chudzinski or explore other candidates like Campanile, the team will be looking for someone who can lead them to success in the upcoming season.
