Boston College's abrupt search for its next head coach, following Jeff Hafley's sudden departure last week to become defensive coordinator for the NFL's Green Bay Packers, is nearing its conclusion, several sources tell FootballScoop.
On-campus, in-person interviews today are expected to be the final step in a search that has seen Boston College officials first conduct phone/Zoom interviews, meet candidates off-site at an undisclosed location -- sources told FootballScoop that spot was the Atlanta airport -- and now move to this final element in the search.
Per sources, newly tabbed Ohio State offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien and Notre Dame defensive run game coordinator/line coach Al Washington.
Additionally, veteran Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun -- who also has NFL experience as the former offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans -- is a name that's circulated throughout this week in association with the BC opening. Calhoun and BC officials have had multiple talks, sources told FootballScoop.
Eagles officials met with additional candidates earlier this week and then moved forward with these candidates as the focus, barring the emergence of an unexpected candidate.
Both candidates, sources told FootballScoop, have different strengths being considered in the BC search.
Washington is a beloved former player, part of the Eagles's most successful stretch of the 2000s when Washington was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter from 2002-05.
Though Washington has not been a defensive coordinator, he notably turned down Tennessee for that opportunity after the Vols hired Josh Heupel three years ago.
He was hired to Notre Dame from Ohio State by Marcus Freeman; Washington also had a five-year stint as an assistant at his alma mater from 2012-16 and showed his versatility as both an offensive and defensive coach i
O'Brien, however, has extensive head coaching experience -- an element sources have emphasized Boston College has pinpointed in this search -- at both the Power 5 and NFL levels; he helped guide Penn State through the depths of the Jerry Sandusky scandal and subsequent NCAA punishment before he had an extended run atop the NFL's Houston Texans.
O'Brien served as Alabama's offensive coordinator in 2022 and then returned this past season as play-caller for the New England Patriots in Bill Belichick's final season.
He was just hired mid-January as Ryan Day's play-caller at Ohio State.
BC officials in this search have spoken with several candidates in addition to O'Brien and Washington, including, sources told FootballScoop, Paul Chryst and Troy Calhoun, as well as another sitting head coach with more than 10 years' head coaching experience.
The Eagles were .500 or better in three of Hafley's four seasons; they won seven games in 2023, capped by a victory in the Fenway Bowl.
Boston College is scheduled to open its 2024 season Labor Day night at Florida State in an season-opening, ACC-opening contest set for national broadcast.