Boston College needs a new head coach after the Green Bay Packers made Jeff Hafley their new defensive coordinator. A national writer believes the Eagles could eye two Ohio State staffers.
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman identified Buckeyes offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and associate head coach Justin Frye as two potential candidates.
Feldman called O’Brien a “wild card option.” The Buckeyes hired him two weeks ago after a tumultuous season with the New England Patriots.
“The timing could be tough as he just accepted the Ohio State OC job, but this one could be intriguing for him on some levels,” Feldman wrote.
Former Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien is a Boston native. He flirted with the BC job the last time it opened. O’Brien just took the Ohio State OC job. Could he be tempted by the Eagles head coaching job? https://t.co/NaWGsTRSWAhttps://t.co/NaWGsTRSWA
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 1, 2024
O’Brien, who was born in Boston, worked as Alabama’s offensive coordinator during Bryce Young’s 2021 Heisman campaign. The Crimson Tide averaged 41.1 points per game in 2022 before O’Brien returned to Foxborough for his second stint on Bill Belichick’s staff.
Feldman said the former Houston Texans head coach explored the Boston College job before.
Meanwhile, Frye spent five seasons at Boston College as an offensive lines coach and run-game coordinator. Feldman said Frye, who was up for Indiana’s head coaching vacancy, possesses the ” commanding presence and the polish” for the job.
It wouldn’t be the first time Boston College found its head coach in Columbus. Hafley spent the 2019 season as Ohio State’s co-defensive coordinator before joining the Eagles.
Boston College went 7-6 with a Fenway Bowl win last season. Feldman also mentioned Brian Flores, Liam Coen, Jason Candle, and Al Washington among other possible candidates.