Could This Be The Face Of The Next BC Head Coach ?

The names of Steve Logan and Frank Spaziani aren’t exactly going to aspire recruits to go to Boston College and it probably won’t go over to well with alumni if they name either of them coach. BC wants a coach there for the long haul. It’s not an easy job. There are strict grade restrictions at BC and it isn’t the easiest school to recruit for.

So where does BC turn ?

One name that has popped up is University of Richmond’s Mike London, who just won the Divison 1 A championship this past December in his first year at the school. London has previously workd at BC from 1997-2000 as there defensive line coach. This could perhaps be the best hire for the school. They’d get some good publicity for hiring an African-American coach, especially one in the ACC. London, has been known to of been an excellent recruiter while at Virginia with Al Groh, and he is a young (48) and up-and-coming coach, something that BC needs. They need fresh blood at the school. He’s proved in only one season that he can win. If BC is to contend with the Florida State’s, Miami’s, and North Carolina in the ACC, London is the kind of coach they need. The school gambled on Jeff Jagodzinski and it paid off for two years, but gambling on London could change the program forever.

The downside: London might not want to leave Richmond just yet, and if he comes to BC, is he here for the long haul ? Those are the questions BC needs to answer. But with the fallout over the firing of Jagodzinski, London would be the breath of fresh air that the school needs. Something that neither Logan or Spaziani could give.

London is the father of Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon London, who went to UMass.

Longshot candidate: Brian Kelly of Cincinnati. He’s from the Boston area (Chelsea) but more than likely he is holding out for a big time coaching gig. He is strongly watching what happens with Charlie Weis at Notre Dame.

It’s Official Jeff Jagodzinski Will Be Fired Today

From Boston.com:

Jeff Jagodzinski will be fired as the Boston College football coach this morning in a meeting with athletic director Gene DeFillippo, according to sources close to the program.

After meeting with the New York Jets in yesterday in New Jersey regarding their opening for a head coach, Jagodzinski called DeFilippo last night, setting up a face-to-face meeting this morning. They will finalize the details of his termination in the meeting. Jagodzinski has three years remaining on the contract.

A press conference is expected to be scheduled for later today.

BC officials are expected to move swiftly to replace Jagodzinski, who won 20 games in two seasons as the program’s head coach. Defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani is the leading candidate to replace Jagodzinski, although athletic department officials will also conduct a search outside the program for possible candidates.

Jeff Jagodzinski Meets With The Jets

From Boston.com:

With published reports stating that BC football coach Jeff Jagodzinski interviewed with the New York Jets yesterday, school officials are waiting for a chance to talk to him in person to work out a deal that seems certain to end Jagodzinski’s career at BC.

DeFilippo said he would take no action until he had a face-to-face meeting with Jagodzinski – the assumption being that the coach would be back in the Boston area today – but he made it clear interviewing with the Jets would put Jagodzinski’s BC career in jeopardy.

According to an NFL source, Jagodzinski made inquiries among his NFL contacts and set up an interview with the Jets, who had just fired Eric Mangini, and sought advice from NFL people familiar with the interview process. Jagodzinski then made plans to meet with the Jets, but without telling DeFilippo, who found out about it Saturday, which caused a major rift.

WEEI is reporting that Jagodzinski talked over the phone with BC AD Gene DeFilippo last night, and the two will meet in person today.

Jeff Jagodzinski Fired ?

From College Football Talk:

Dan Patrick, who might or might not be transmogrifying into a college football reporter, reports that Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski is out, based on his decision to interview for the current head-coaching vacancy with the New York Jets.

On Sunday night, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that Jagodzinski had been threatened with termination if he went through with the interview.

Patrick, citing an unnamed source, had said that Jagodzinski would interview for the Jets job on Monday night and Tuesday, despite the threat of termination.

The next question becomes whether Jagodzinksi is entitled to the balance of his contract at Boston College. 

Our guess is that, unless interviewing for the Jets job constitutes “cause” for firing him, the Eagles will be on the hook for the rest of the money.

The school likely will be reduced by Jagodzinski’s salary from his next coaching job.  And if he gets the job in New York, he likely will make even more money.