Boston College fires Jagodzinski

Full story here, http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/college/football/view/2009_01_07_Jagodzinski_s_BC_days_could_be_over/srvc=home&position=also

Jeff Jagodzinski’s days as the head football coach at Boston College are over.

According to a source, BC’s athletic director Gene DeFilippo and Jagodzinski met face to face earlier today and DeFilippo fired the coach. The school announced that there will be a 3 p.m. press conference on the matter at BC today.

DeFilippo learned of Jagodzinski’s planned interview for the head coaching position of the New York Jets [team stats] over the weekend and told Jagodzinski that he’d be fired if he went through with that interview.


Jagdozinski, who has coached at The Heights for two seasons and has led the Eagles to the ACC championship game each of the last two campaigns, interviewed with the Jets yesterday. While he is not considered a lead candidate for the Jets’ post, he appears eager to get back into the NFL and might have some options with the Seattle Seahawks if he is passed over in New York.

Jagodzinski worked with new Seattle coach Jim Mora Jr. when in Atlanta and he also coached quarterback Matt Hasselbeck when he was the offensive coordinator at BC.

DeFilippo will have to move quickly to fill the position. The drama that has been unfolding the past few days is beginning to affect recruiting, which according to some hadn’t been going all that well in the first place.

Recruiting Web site Rivals.com yesterday reported that Justin Brown, a highly regarded receiver from Wilmington, Del., is having second thoughts about taking a planned visit to The Heights. The Eagles want to give themselves every chance possible to land the 6-foot-3, 209-pound four-star recruit.

“I may not go to Boston College on Jan. 16 now because of the head coaching situation going on,” said Brown, though he said BC still was on his list of possible schools.

While it’s believed outside candidates will be interviewed, the most logical move for DeFilippo - being just two years removed from a major staff upheaval with Tom O’Brien’s departure and Jagodzinski’s hiring - seems to be to choose his next head coach from the solid staff at BC. Defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani and assistant head coach/offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr. are considered the two leading candidates for head coach. Offensive coordinator Steve Logan also is being considered, but it’s not clear right now if he would want to stay at BC without Jagodzinski. Logan and Jagodzinski coached together at East Carolina, and Jagodzinski brought Logan to BC with him two years ago.