By: Mike Huesmann
With the surprise and untimely decision that Jeff Hafley will become the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, BC will be looking for a new head coach. Hafley had a very mixed 4 years in charge of the Eagles. His career record of 22-26 with two bowl appearances was a mixed bag of up and down, inconsistent offense, and flashes of “maybe they’ve figured it out.” His good reputation meant he wasn’t on the hot seat yet, but another year or two of the same and he would’ve been, and he likely knew it.
This loss could mean Hafley wanted to go back to the NFL, where he coached for 6 seasons, or it could be a sign of the new trend where the head coaches of economically disadvantaged programs bounce for bigger and better jobs, even if it means a reduction in title.
Here are five options for Boston College as their next head coach.
Note- Bob Chesney is a hot name now, I don’t think he leaves JMU so soon after taking the job even though he had significant success at Holy Cross. The Richmond newspaper reported today that he would not be leaving JMU.
Al Washington
Defensive Line, Notre Dame
Washington is a BC alumnus and coached here for multiple seasons. Right now, his name is the one popping up the most for this job. BC will want someone with a background either here or at another academically intense school; Washington has both. He has coached at Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame in recent years. Washington has tutored many players at both DL and LB over his career who have gone on to the NFL. If I was a betting man, right now, I’d be hard-pressed to bet on someone other than him to get the job.
https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/1753048340873580638
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Jason Candle
Head Coach, Toledo
He continues to do good things at Toledo. He brings significant head coaching success, Midwest ties, and more experience than most at this level who’ll be considered for the job. Candle took his squad to the MAC title game again, and the pull of the ACC and the economic resources BC can offer, relative to Toledo, will be appealing to him. If previous head coaching experience and ties to the Midwest end up being the driving factors, he’s a guy to watch.
https://twitter.com/Matt_Fortuna/status/1752890030232645794
Al Golden
Defensive Coordinator, Notre Dame
For jobs like these, connections are always important to look at. Golden was the former head coach at Miami, and that’s also where BC athletic director Blake James was before moving North. Golden was good at Temple and struggled at Miami, which looks less bad since everyone has struggled at Miami the last two decades. I also think Golden has matured and grown a lot since being a young head coach. At least I hope he has. He has done a good job at Notre Dame and, before that, spent time with two NFL teams on both sides of the ball. I doubt Golden will be the top choice, but he’s probably a safer one and not too far down the list.
https://twitter.com/Fravel_Ryan/status/1738394869503037844
Jeff Monken
Head Coach, Army
Monken has shown he can coach and win with less talent. That will likely be the case at Boston College initially. The former Navy and Georgia Southern assistant also spent 4 years as the GSU head coach before going to West Point. Since arriving at Army in 2014, he has gone 67-55 while showing us recently that he is capable of shifting offensive philosophies and isn’t just a triple-option guy. Monken could be a guy in the mix here.
https://twitter.com/bmarcello/status/1752854090214674943
Tem Lukabu
Outside LB’s, Carolina Panthers
Former BC defensive coordinator Lukabu will be a man whose name comes up for this job. Whether or not he has any desire to leave the NFL is something I don’t know. He has bounced back and forth from college to the NFL multiple times, he just finished his first season with Carolina after three as the DC for the Eagles. Stops along the way include Rutgers, Colgate, FIU, and Mississippi State at the college ranks and the Buccaneers, 49ers, and Bengals in the NFL. The DR Congo native has a reputation as a skilled strategist on the field and hugely popular with players off of it.
https://twitter.com/footballdothow/status/1475574007030157314
