Jeff Hafley felt he couldn't pass up the opportunity to become the new head coach at Boston College, but he's still focused on finishing out this season with Ohio State first.“I have to go win a national championship.” https://t.co/bHaNDKu2xI— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 16, 2019
Jeff Hafley’s BC press conference was a visceral outpouring – laughter and tears, authenticity and emotion, energy and connection. Column on his dueling dreams — a new team and a potential national title at Ohio State. https://t.co/vTaaa2Ld3Z— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 17, 2019
Agreed. I just think it’s a step down as far as building relationships with the top high schools and recruits. With OSU, he’s walking into the IMG/Mater Dei/St Thomas Aquinas level programs with guns blazing and turning the top recruits in the nation into NFL stars. With BC, he’ll have to prove that he’s capable of doing that with 2* and 3* players with the occasional 4* guy... I think he can compete in the ACC, but I’m not sure if he can build a program like that into a powerhouse to the point of attracting attention from a blue blood when it isn’t located in a particularly talent rich state, and they haven’t had any recent history of notable success. I really hope he turns it around up there tho. Someone needs to compete with Clemson in the ACC, and I think he’s a great coach. It’s just more difficult to do with a defensive-minded coach than an offensive guy.
Ryan Day said Jeff Hafley understands that Ohio State is bigger than just one coach and has been communicating that to the players on the recruiting trail.“This has been a great place before Jeff came and it will be a great place after he’s gone."— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 18, 2019
Jeff Hafley on his choice to leave Ohio State for Boston College after one season: "I have not missed a meeting, I have not missed a practice. I can assure everyone that I am all in on this thing." https://t.co/O0wQKHsw9p— Doug Lesmerises (@DougLesmerises) December 26, 2019
I still can't believe we're losing this guy to BC. I can't help but think that this is a terrible mistake similar to what Ash tried to do at Rutgers. If you look at the best college programs right now they all have one of two things in common ... Their head coaches were either directly promoted from within an already-successful program (Dabo, Riley, Day, and formerly Fisher), or they were given time to develop for under the umbrella of a successful program for years before moving on (Kirby Smart/Ed Orgeron/Dan Mullen). The success rate of hiring assistants who have spent under 5 years in a program is extremely low, and it plummets even further when that assistant is a defensive coach. I just don't understand why you'd go after Hafley when Brett Venables is out there. If it's an x's and o's thing, I would go after Joe Brady bc it's easier to build a program around an elite offense than defense. This really just strikes me as a terrible mistake on both sides.
A message from former Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley before he takes over as head coach at Boston College: pic.twitter.com/jNnb1R7g2Q— News Radio 610 WTVN (@610wtvnnews) December 29, 2019
Jeff Hafley hires another staffer from Ohio State to round out his first Boston College coaching staff. Matt Thurin, who was a defensive quality control coach for the Buckeyes, joins Hafley, Sean Duggan and Phil Matusz as members of Ohio State's 2019 staff who are now at BC. https://t.co/k9f5ThSRuj— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) January 17, 2020
Jeff Hafley on transition to Boston College, lessons learned at Ohio State https://t.co/5RisjuKkbJ— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) June 1, 2020
Former Ohio State assistant Jeff Hafley deals with hurdles in first head coaching job https://t.co/FgCkMYHZeB— BuckeyeXtra.com (@BuckeyeXtra) June 22, 2020
Jeff Hafley still talks regularly with Ryan Day and many of his former Ohio State players and says strength coach Phil Matusz has helped him create a similar culture to OSU at BC. https://t.co/XDUp27c2bg— Eleven Warriors (@11W) June 26, 2020
Under Jeff Hafley and his staff, we're seeing #BostonCollege recruit at a level NEVER seen before regarding the ACC program. More on what the Eagles are doing here: https://t.co/tgyLoSEBaO— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) October 16, 2020
Former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is staying at Boston College on a five-year contract extension. He’s 12-11 in his first two seasons with the Eagles. https://t.co/KPErS72Sfy— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) November 29, 2021
Enjoyed speaking with BC coach Jeff Hafley about all that Zay Flowers brings to the table. pic.twitter.com/scO9GBVr1c— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) March 24, 2023
Sources: Boston College coach Jeff Hafley is expected to become the new defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers. Hafley has brought BC to bowl eligibility in three of his four years. pic.twitter.com/TrcArWmiyb— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 31, 2024
Packers DC Jeff Hafley: College football's still great, but it changed a lot last few years. https://t.co/tws3zWxmnX— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 23, 2024