Inside The Panthers

Pitt Opponent Closing On Hiring New HC

One of the Pitt Panthers' most frequent opponents in the ACC has found their new head coach.
Stephen Thompson|
Pitt Opponent Closing On Hiring New HC
Pitt Opponent Closing On Hiring New HC

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Pittsburgh Panthers

PITTSBURGH -- One of the Pitt Panthers' annual rivals in the ACC is closing in on hiring a new head coach and they didn't have to go very far to find him. 

Boston College - who the Panthers are scheduled to play every season from now until 2030 - are expected to enter the 2024 season with Bill O'Brien, the former Penn State head coach and Alabama and New England Patriots offensive coordinator, as their head coach, according to a report from The Athletic's Bruce Feldman that was later confirmed by ESPN's Pete Thamel. 

O'Brien, who was dismissed from the Patriots after Bill Belichick and the franchise mutually agreed to part ways, was last a college head coach with the Nittany Lions. He went 15-9 over two seasons while the program dealt with NCAA sanctions and was named the 2012 Big 10 Coach of the Year. 

He has extensive NFL experience, having been a head coach with the Texans and assistant coach for the Patriots for a combined 12 years. He had been hired to serve as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at Ohio State earlier this year, but will abandon that post to be a head coach. 

The Eagles lost head coach Jeff Hafley last month, when he made the surprising decision to become the new defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers.

Hafley and the Eagles won seven games in 2023, including a 23-14 victory over then-No. 17 SMU in the Fenway Bowl, their first bowl appearance since 2019. Boston College took College Football Playoff contender and eventual ACC Champion Florida State down to the wire before ultimately losing, 31-29. Hafley accumulated a 22-26 record as head coach of the Eagles, including a 1-1 record against Pitt, in four seasons at the helm. 

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Published
Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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