Sources: BC to hire O’Brien as next head coach
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Boston College is working toward a deal to hire Bill O’Brien as the school’s next head coach, sources told ESPN, giving the coach born in Massachusetts a homecoming and the Eagles a hire with extensive NFL experience and strong local ties.
O’Brien, who took the Ohio State offensive coordinator job last month, interviewed in person Thursday, the final step in Boston College’s process. He was one of three candidates to travel to Massachusetts for interviews Thursday, and a deal and a formal announcement are expected soon.
O’Brien, 54, is the former head coach of Penn State and the Houston Texans, and he is best known around Boston for his stints with the New England Patriots. He coached there from 2007 to 2011 and again in 2023 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
O’Brien brings extensive ties to the area, as he grew up locally in Andover. One of his sons, Michael, plays college baseball at nearby Tufts. His family had planned to stay in the greater Boston area while he worked in Columbus, according to sources, and this opportunity allows him to be near his family more.
O’Brien’s wife, Colleen, is a Boston College graduate. It’s one of many ties to the school and the area, as Bill O’Brien graduated high school from St. John’s Prep in Danvers and played football at nearby Brown University. O’Brien started his coaching career at Brown.
He takes over for Jeff Hafley, who left last week to become the defensive coordinator 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 worked with Bryce Young (as Alabama‘s offensive coordinator), Tom Brady and Deshaun Watson during some of their best seasons.
He enters a job where Boston College hasn’t distinguished itself nationally in recent years. The Eagles haven’t won eight games in a season since 2009 and have been nationally ranked in only one season since 2008. O’Brien’s quarterback knowledge and NFL experience should make Boston College an attractive option in the transfer market.
O’Brien left New England after his first stint for the head-coaching job at Penn State in 2012, taking over in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual assault case and bringing success on the field as well as 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 six 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 most recent college experience, before Ohio State, came at Alabama. He worked as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during Young’s Heisman Trophy season.
Alabama finished in the top 10 in scoring offense in both of O’Brien’s seasons as offensive coordinator, averaging 39.9 points and 41.1 points per game.
O’Brien’s departure opens up one of the most intriguing offensive coordinator jobs in the sport, as Ohio State coach Ryan Day said in a news conference this week that he is giving up playcalling in 2024.
TORONTO — Cleveland Guardians star Jose Ramirez was back in the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, two days after the third baseman left in the third inning because of a mild right ankle sprain.
The six-time All-Star was injured when he stumbled and fell while crossing first base on an infield single. Ramirez went down after being struck in the back by a throw from Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt.
Ramirez was batting third Sunday against right-hander Bowden Francis.
Ramírez sat out Saturday when Cleveland beat Toronto 5-3. He went 2 for 2 before departing Friday, boosting his average to .274. He has five home runs and 15 RBIs in 31 games.
In last Thursday’s 4-3 victory over Minnesota, Ramirez became the first primary third baseman to reach 250 homers and 250 stolen bases.
The New York Mets transferred Danny Young to the 60-day injured list on Sunday after team doctors recommended Tommy John surgery for the left-handed reliever.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters Sunday that the team is awaiting a decision from Young about the next step. The 30-year-old Young had been placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with an elbow sprain.
Young has appeared in 10 games this season, with a 4.32 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings. His most recent appearance came April 26. He pitched in 42 games in 2024, going 4-1 with a 4.52 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings.
Between Young’s injury and the left lat injury suffered last week by A.J. Minter, the Mets will be without their primary left-handed relievers for a significant length of time.
The Mets on Sunday called up right-hander Blade Tidwell from Triple-A Syracuse to make his major league debut in Game 1 on their doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Right-hander Austin Warren was optioned to Syracuse and appointed as the 27th player for both games of the doubleheader.
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