BC fires Jagodzinski after coach met with Jets

[January 08, 2009]  BOSTON (AP) -- Boston College fired Jeff Jagodzinski on Wednesday, days after he was warned of dismissal if he interviewed for the coaching job with the New York Jets.

BC athletic director Gene DeFilippo told Jagodzinski (jay-guh-ZIN'-skee) on Saturday that his job would be in jeopardy if he went through with the Jets interview. Jagodzinski met with the Jets on Tuesday night.

A few hours later, at a Wednesday morning meeting, DeFilippo told Jagodzinski he was out.

"We're really good friends and this is a very difficult thing to do," DeFilippo said at a news conference. "We will find somebody who really wants to be at Boston College and will be here for the length of their contract."

DeFilippo said he fired Jagodzinski over a "difference of vision for the future." He has said he wanted a coach who would stay at the school long term. Jagodzinski has been BC's coach for two years and had three years left on his contract.

"A coach of his talents and personality will have many future opportunities and I am certain of his continued success," he said.

In a statement, Jagodzinski thanked school officials.

"I am so proud of what these students-athletes and our staff have accomplished during our tenure here," Jagodzinski said. "I wish everyone at Boston College the best in the years to come, both on and off the field."

A phone number listed to his home had been disconnected and he did not immediately return a call for comment left on his cell phone.

DeFilippo could replace Jagodzinski, 45, with defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani or assistant head coach Jack Bicknell Jr.

"I wish this day would end and get over then we can begin to look for the next head football coach here at Boston College," DeFilippo said.

The BC job was Jagodzinski's first as a head coach after 22 years as an assistant, 14 in college and eight in the NFL. After one season as offensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers in 2006, Jagodzinski went to BC after Tom O'Brien left for North Carolina State.

He led the Eagles to two Atlantic Coast Conference title games but lost both to Virginia Tech. They were 11-3 in his first season, when they rose as high as the No. 2 national ranking. They went 9-5 in 2008, winding up with a 16-14 loss to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31 that snapped an eight-game bowl winning streak for the Eagles.

Jagodzinski upset DeFilippo when he didn't tell his boss that he would interview with the Jets, who fired Eric Mangini the day after the team missed the playoffs despite an 8-3 start.

Jagodzinski was Jets quarterback Brett Favre's offensive coordinator in Green Bay but is considered a long shot for the New York job. He also could be interested in an offensive coordinator's position in the pros, which has few if any of the responsibilities of a college coach -- recruiting, meeting with alumni and supporters of the program, attending functions and participating in other off-field events.

Seattle needs to assemble a staff under new coach Jim Mora, and Jagodzinski has worked with Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Jagodzinski spent two years as BC's offensive coordinator, starting in 1997 when Hasselbeck played there.

Jagodzinski also worked for Mora as an assistant with the Atlanta Falcons.

[Associated Press; By HOWARD ULMAN]

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