2013 Boston College Football Unit Preview: Coaches
By Joe Micik
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Finally, we’re close enough to the season to start the season preview for 2013 Boston College Eagles football. There is excitement building, and one of the reasons why is the subject of today’s first unit preview.
Entering last season, virtually everyone was aware that wholesale changes were coming to the coaching staff with a new athletic director on his way. Brad Bates gave the keys to Steve Addazio, and Addazio brought in his new crew to help turn the Eagles around.
2013 Boston College Football Unit Preview: Head Coach
Steve Addazio
Addazio came to Boston College in December and instantly started working on changing the attitude after years of decline and what Doug Flutie recently described to STG as “guys losing their edge.” The players are working very hard but the fans are getting an idea of Addazio’s hard work as well, as he and the entire coaching staff have been very accessible through social media and other face-to-face availabilities.
Steve Addazio comes to Boston College after two years as head coach at Temple; before that, he was Urban Meyer’s offensive coordinator at Florida, where (as an assistant and OC) he was part of two national championship teams.
2013 Boston College Football Unit Preview: Offensive Coaches
Ryan Day, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Day returns to Boston College with Addazio as the offensive coordinator. Previously, Day was a staffer under Tom O’Brien, Jeff Jagodzinski, and Frank Spaziani. He went to Temple in 2012 as co-offensive coordinator with another former BC coach, Kevin Rogers. At least he didn’t have to ask where the good restaurants near campus are when he got here.
Day will also serve as quarterbacks coach to Chase Rettig and others.
Todd Fitch, Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator
Fitch is another new face on the Heights, and he’s one with a great deal of prior experience. He has been coaching at the collegiate level for over a quarter of a century, and previously, he was the offensive coordinator at ECU and then USF. Fitch can be considered part of the Lou Holtz/Skip Holtz coaching tree. In addition to those schools, he has coached at South Carolina, Iowa State, and UConn, amongst others.
Justin Frye, Offensive Line
Frye comes to Boston College after two years at Temple as offensive line coach for Addazio. He and the head coach have coached together since Addazio was at Florida. Frye knows a thing or two about being on an offensive line, as he played for the Indiana Hoosiers, starting a majority of games at right guard or right tackle.
Al Washington, Running Backs
Here’s a familiar face to Eagles fans, but he’s switching sides of the football. Al Washington, a defensive standout for Boston College as a player and a defensive assistant last year under Spaziani, is now the running backs coach for Addazio. Not to be overlooked, one of Washington’s primary contributions to the program has been his solid recruiting, particularly in tapping into southern talent.
Rich Gunnell, Graduate Assistant
Arguably one of the best wide receivers in Boston College history, Rich Gunnell is back for a second season as graduate assistant. It’s no wonder we had guys have seasons like Alex Amidon did last year with his help.
Nick Charlton, Graduate Assistant
Charlton is also a Boston College alum and is also back for a second year as graduate assistant. He previously served as a student manager of the team while an undergraduate.