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Interview could lead to firing of Boston College coach
By The Associated Press
Tuesday, January 06, 2009 | No comments posted.
BOSTON — Jeff Jagodzinski of Boston College has been invited to interview for the New York Jets’ coaching job, a BC official told The Associated Press on Monday, and the school has reportedly threatened to fire him if he goes through with it.
Athletic director Gene DeFilippo would not confirm that he gave Jagodzinski an ultimatum, saying only, “I want a coach who wants to be at BC for a long time.” But ESPN.com reported Sunday night that Jagodzinski would not be welcome to return if he seeks work in the NFL.
A BC official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the school was not commenting publicly, said the former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator committed to stay in Chestnut Hill longer than two years when he was hired. Leaving during the last week of recruiting also would put the Eagles at a disadvantage.
DeFilippo first learned of Jagodzinski’s contact with the Jets on Saturday and had not spoken to him since Sunday, according to the official. The school did not know whether Jagodzinski planned to withdraw from the Jets search.
The Jets declined comment through a team spokesman, neither confirming nor denying that Jagodzinski was interviewing for the team’s coaching vacancy.
Earlier Monday, DeFilippo said he would not rule out Jagodzinski’s return.
“I like Jeff. I mean, I really like Jeff,” he said. “We’re going to handle the situation as it unfolds.”
The maneuvering took place on a quiet campus absent of students, who have not yet returned from winter break, and left the athletic department scrambling for a potential replacement with a week left in the recruiting season.
A lot has happened since they left.
Jagodzinski’s Eagles, who reached the Atlantic Coast Conference title game for the second consecutive year, lost 16-14 to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31 — the school’s first bowl loss after eight consecutive victories. And on Sunday night, BC upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten North Carolina in men’s basketball.
On the second floor of the athletic building, above the doorway the basketball players would walk through on the way to practice, someone had hung a sign that said, “Congrats! BC 85 - NC 78.” Inside, the game was being replayed on the same television station that had lost its feed in the final 2 minutes on Sunday, leaving Eagles fans wondering if the upset had been completed.
The victory propelled the BC basketball team into The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time this season, at No. 17.
But that was overshadowed in the athletic department by the turmoil in the football program, which Jagodzinski helped stabilize when Tom O’Brien defected to North Carolina State two years ago. Coach Jags, as he is known, had been an assistant at BC in 1997-98 but never a head coach before he took over the Eagles.
In his first season, BC rose as high as No. 2 in the nation and lost to Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game before a victory in the Champs Sports Bowl. The Eagles followed that 11-3 season with another ACC division title and another loss to the Hokies in the conference championship game, finishing 9-5.
A call to Jagodzinski’s office was referred to BC media relations, and was not returned.
Athletic director Gene DeFilippo would not confirm that he gave Jagodzinski an ultimatum, saying only, “I want a coach who wants to be at BC for a long time.” But ESPN.com reported Sunday night that Jagodzinski would not be welcome to return if he seeks work in the NFL.
A BC official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the school was not commenting publicly, said the former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator committed to stay in Chestnut Hill longer than two years when he was hired. Leaving during the last week of recruiting also would put the Eagles at a disadvantage.
DeFilippo first learned of Jagodzinski’s contact with the Jets on Saturday and had not spoken to him since Sunday, according to the official. The school did not know whether Jagodzinski planned to withdraw from the Jets search.
The Jets declined comment through a team spokesman, neither confirming nor denying that Jagodzinski was interviewing for the team’s coaching vacancy.
Earlier Monday, DeFilippo said he would not rule out Jagodzinski’s return.
“I like Jeff. I mean, I really like Jeff,” he said. “We’re going to handle the situation as it unfolds.”
The maneuvering took place on a quiet campus absent of students, who have not yet returned from winter break, and left the athletic department scrambling for a potential replacement with a week left in the recruiting season.
A lot has happened since they left.
Jagodzinski’s Eagles, who reached the Atlantic Coast Conference title game for the second consecutive year, lost 16-14 to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31 — the school’s first bowl loss after eight consecutive victories. And on Sunday night, BC upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten North Carolina in men’s basketball.
On the second floor of the athletic building, above the doorway the basketball players would walk through on the way to practice, someone had hung a sign that said, “Congrats! BC 85 - NC 78.” Inside, the game was being replayed on the same television station that had lost its feed in the final 2 minutes on Sunday, leaving Eagles fans wondering if the upset had been completed.
The victory propelled the BC basketball team into The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time this season, at No. 17.
But that was overshadowed in the athletic department by the turmoil in the football program, which Jagodzinski helped stabilize when Tom O’Brien defected to North Carolina State two years ago. Coach Jags, as he is known, had been an assistant at BC in 1997-98 but never a head coach before he took over the Eagles.
In his first season, BC rose as high as No. 2 in the nation and lost to Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game before a victory in the Champs Sports Bowl. The Eagles followed that 11-3 season with another ACC division title and another loss to the Hokies in the conference championship game, finishing 9-5.
A call to Jagodzinski’s office was referred to BC media relations, and was not returned.
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