Sources: BC to hire O’Brien as next head coach

• Pete Thamel, ESPNFeb 9, 2024, 11:01 AM ET Boston College is pursuing an offer to work with Expense O’Brien as the school’s next head coach, sources informed ESPN, giving the coach born in Massachusetts a homecoming and the Eagles a hire with substantial NFL experience and strong local ties.O’Brien, who took the Ohio State offending coordinator job last month, talked to personally Thursday, the final step in Boston College’s procedure. He was among three prospects to take a trip to Massachusetts for interviews Thursday, and a deal and an official statement are expected soon.O’Brien, 54, is the former head coach of Penn State and the Houston Texans, and he is best understood around Boston for his stints with the New England Patriots. He coached there from 2007 to 2011 and again in 2023 as the offensive planner and quarterbacks coach.Editor’s Picks

O’Brien brings extensive ties to the location, as he matured in your area in Andover. Among his children, Michael, plays college baseball at nearby Tufts. His family had actually prepared to stay in the greater Boston location while he operated in Columbus, according to sources, and this opportunity enables him to be near his household more.O’Brien’s better half, Colleen, is a Boston College graduate. It is among lots of ties to the school and the location, as Costs O’Brien graduated high school from St. John’s Preparation in Danvers and played football at close-by Brown University. O’Brien began his coaching profession at Brown.He takes over for Jeff Hafley, who left last week to end up being the defensive planner of the Green Bay Packers. Boston College went 7-6 in 2023 with a win over No. 24 SMU in the Fenway Bowl.O ‘Brien brings a strong reputation as a quarterback

tutor, having dealt with Bryce Young(as Alabama’s offending planner), Tom Brady and Deshaun Watson during some of their finest seasons.He enters a task where Boston College hasn’t differentiated itself nationally over the last few years.

The Eagles have not won eight games in a season because 2009 and have been nationally ranked in only one season since 2008. O’Brien’s quarterback understanding and NFL experience need to make Boston College an attractive alternative in the transfer market.O’ Brien left New England after his first stint for the head-coaching task at Penn State in 2012, taking control of in the

wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual attack case and bringing success on the field in addition to galvanizing the program off the field. In 2012, he won Big Ten Coach of the Year and Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year. He went 15-9 in two seasons at Penn State.O’ Brien worked 6 full seasons and part of a seventh as head coach of the Texans, where he led them to four playoff appearances and went 52-48. O’Brien’s newest college experience, before Ohio State, came at Alabama. He worked as offending organizer and quarterbacks coach throughout Young’s Heisman Trophy season.Alabama completed in the leading 10 in scoring offense in both of O’Brien’s seasons as offending planner, averaging 39.9 points and 41.1 points per game.O ‘Brien’s departure opens up one of

the most appealing offending planner tasks in the sport, as Ohio State coach Ryan Day said in a news conference today that he is giving up playcalling in 2024.