REPORTS: Former Penn State football coach Bill O’Brien set to become ACC head coach

Former Penn State football coach Bill O’Brien appears ready to make his return to the college head coaching ranks. First reported by Bruce Feldman on Thursday night, the former Nittany Lions and NFL head coach is expected to be offered the top job at Boston College after former Eagles head coach Jeff Hafley left to become the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator last week. O’Brien now leaves his current role as Ohio State offensive coordinator after less than a month.

Ex-Penn State football coach Bill O’Brien to become next Boston College head coach

When Jeff Hafley abruptly announced his departure from Boston College for the NFL last week, Bill O’Brien quickly rose up the list of potential replacement candidates. O’Brien is a Boston native and has spent six years on the New England Patriots staff, including this last season as offensive coordinator.

Boston College conducted two rounds of interviews this week, but O’Brien quickly emerged as the top candidate for the position. On Thursday night, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reported that sources have indicated the Eagles are set to offer to position to the former Penn State football coach. Eagle Insider, the 247Sports affiliate for Boston College, later confirmed the reports.

An announcement is expected as early as Friday, but should be made this weekend. There is some conflicting reporting, however, as ESPN’s Pete Thamel noted that Boston College has not offered anyone the position as of Thursday night. He writes that a decision will be made on Friday.

SOURCE: Ohio State OC Bill O’Brien has emerged as the top target for the Boston College coaching vacancy.https://t.co/IFsMNlqfq1

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 9, 2024

This will be Bill O’Brien’s second stint as a college head coach and third overall. Replacing Joe Paterno in 2012, O’Brien went 15-9 in two years as Penn State football coach. O’Brien went 52-48 with four AFC South titles in seven seasons with the NFL’s Houston Texans.

O’Brien’s short stint in Columbus

Bill O’Brien will head to Boston College after a very brief return to the Big Ten. On January 18, Ryan Day hired O’Brien as the offensive coordinator at Ohio State.

But as it turns out, James Franklin will not see his predecessor on the sidelines in 2024 after all. Ohio State now begins the search for its second offensive coordinator hire of the offseason. 

“We did talk to different people [before hiring O’Brien], and we will have contingency plans in place,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said of the situation on Wednesday. “Hopefully, we don’t have to go down that road, though.”

The opening will likely be an attractive one, with Ohio State bringing in one of the top transfer portal classes in the country this winter. Among the new Buckeyes are Kansas State QB Will Howard, Alabama CB Caleb Downs, and Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins, who rushed for 106 yards against Penn State in the Peach Bowl this season.

Penn State football welcomes the Ohio State Buckeyes, now likely sans Bill O’Brien, to Beaver Stadium on November 2.

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