Some thoughts on Jeff Hafley's opening press conference from this morning...
"We found everything .... in Jeff Hafley" ... Martin Jarmond said he checked all the boxes. Someone who understand who BC is with Catholic-Jesuit values and someone who knows how to win.
"I will not let you down ... you have my word on that" ... Hafley to Martin Jarmond, with the former noting it was a first time AD hiring a first time HC. Realizes he's sticking his neck out for someone. Jarmond also thanked Fr. Leahy for his trust and said he did not hire a search firm.
Thanks to Wannstedt, Schiano, Day... Hafley said Wannstedt is like a second father to him. Gave a 26-year old Hafley a chance to be DB's coach, then thanked Schiano for giving him a chance to coach in the NFL. Thanked a number of people but really singled those two out as especially important, primarily Wannstedt for really giving him a start. Hafley said Ryan Day talks very highly of BC. Never planned on leaving Day after one season but when this job opened "it felt special and it felt right".
Chip on his shoulders ... Hafley noted he doesn't look like someone who played big-time football. He's had a chip on his shoulders and has had to knock down doors. Got emotional talking about his family, the support and love his mom, siblings, for never doubting him. Father can't be there, passed away, said he loves him and he's why he's there.
Met with the team ... Told the players why he's excited to be there. Called it a special place. The Jesuit values of being for others. Stayed in the dorms here between camp sessions. When the opportunity came he said he's there because of the players at BC. He's watched the players here. Told them what he's all about as a person.
Three areas of focus ... 1) Going to be tough. Look tough, walk tough. 2) Love. Really important to Hafley. In the world right now, in college football, it's tough. Need to love each other. More than a word or feeling, it's an action. 3) Going to compete in everything they do. Wake up and compete. Go to school and compete. Compete with ourselves and each other.
"I have to go back ..." He wishes he could stay and start working now "but I have to go win a national championship. I owe it to them..." But he wants to lock arms, with the alumni, faculty, students. Have to do it together. It's going to be hard and there will be work "but it's going to be real". When it's done the right way it's real and it's going to be worth it."
The goal ... Said he wants BC to be a top-25 program. Wants there to be magical moments, seasons, like with Flutie and Ryan. Need to bring back those magical moments to the Heights. That's what he plans on doing. "I'm in. I'm here and I'm in."
To the students and community ... Issued a charge to the community, students, everyone around the program to buy in and be a part of what they're doing.
On Gene Smith ... Asked if Jarmond's association smoothed it out, Jarmond said it did and didn't. Smith has been his mentor so it helped. But when he called and said he wanted one of his guys, he didn't know how that would be received because he knows how valuable he is. Said just as a courtesy, "one of your guys is really high on my list," Smith's response was "wow". It became easier after he talked to Ryan Day. Didn't want to be disruptive to their push for a championship.
Why BC from a football perspective ... "It was more than just football". Grew up in North Jersey, knew about BC his entire life growing up. The university, the values he talked about. Started to watch the team.
"This is not a rebuild" ... Echoing what Jarmond said at the start of the search, said they have a foundation and not starting from scratch.
Building a staff around him ... Hafley said the staff will be "everything". Told Jarmond in the process that players and coaches are what you win with. Facilities and everything are nice but you win with people. Need people with same values, some he's worked with and maybe some he hasn't. Has a good pool. "There's a lot of people that want to be here." Can't tell you how many calls he's gotten from people who want to be a part of it. Wants them to be the right fit.
On the collision of OSU in the playoffs and now BC ... Lot of people have asked about this. He sees it as a blessing more than a challenge. Gets to fulfill a dream of working for a national championship then when done with that can work on becoming a head coach, putting together a staff at a place he really wants to be. His wife might get mad because he might not see her or talk to her very much but sees it as a great opportunity.
On the overwhelmingly positive response to the BC hire ... It's been everything. Asked Jarmond how people are taking it because he hasn't had much time to look. Walked in today and got emotional to see so many people smiling. Will do everything he can do make people proud.
Jarmond on the hire ... An important hire for the community, he understood the magnitude and the position of leadership of head football coach. Took it seriously and prepared a lot. When you have a moment like this you have to take advantage and get it right. Did everything he could to prepare to get it right.
On selling BC to current players ... With Brown entering the portal, he knows it's his job to communicate with all these guys. Let them know who he is. Hasn't had the time to talk to everybody yet but is excited to do so. Will make sure he does that.
On the OSU culture that he can bring ... Hafley defers to Jarmond, "you're a Buckeye..." Jarmond said you win with people and it starts with people. There are great people there, Gene Smith, Ryan Day, Al Washington. Hafley said there's great people there. Great strength coach there. Urban Meyer and Jim Tressel did a great job. Has been consistency among the coaches and people there. You allow that to build and it's been exciting to learn from.
On being a college head coach ... Wants to change lives as well. Thought he would be a head coach and coordinator in the NFL but some things brought him back to college. One thing was to look at opportunity like this. In college you affect lives and change people. That's what life is all about. As head coach, not just a position coach or coordinator, he's excited about that.
In the NFL .. He learned a lot of football. Nothing but football for seven years. Prepared for a moment like this. Was around great people, great players. Wasn't afraid to ask players what they thought. Asked Richard Sherman lots of questions. It was about relationships in the NFL. Some of them said congratulations when he got the job, so that means it meant something to them.
Jarmond on what he's looked for in coaches ... Have to have alignment in what you're looking for. Integrity, passion, a drive to compete, and a teacher. Someone who doesn't just teach tackling, passing, but how to become a better person, better student, teammate. Leadership is the No. 1 thing. Hafley fit all of those. Has those qualities but also those intangibles. Chip on his shoulder. Jarmond likes someone who's hungry, just needs an opportunity. He understands that.
Not just a football coach ... Have to get to know people. It takes time. That's life. The most important thing to him is the relationships he has with family.
"We found everything .... in Jeff Hafley" ... Martin Jarmond said he checked all the boxes. Someone who understand who BC is with Catholic-Jesuit values and someone who knows how to win.
"I will not let you down ... you have my word on that" ... Hafley to Martin Jarmond, with the former noting it was a first time AD hiring a first time HC. Realizes he's sticking his neck out for someone. Jarmond also thanked Fr. Leahy for his trust and said he did not hire a search firm.
Thanks to Wannstedt, Schiano, Day... Hafley said Wannstedt is like a second father to him. Gave a 26-year old Hafley a chance to be DB's coach, then thanked Schiano for giving him a chance to coach in the NFL. Thanked a number of people but really singled those two out as especially important, primarily Wannstedt for really giving him a start. Hafley said Ryan Day talks very highly of BC. Never planned on leaving Day after one season but when this job opened "it felt special and it felt right".
Chip on his shoulders ... Hafley noted he doesn't look like someone who played big-time football. He's had a chip on his shoulders and has had to knock down doors. Got emotional talking about his family, the support and love his mom, siblings, for never doubting him. Father can't be there, passed away, said he loves him and he's why he's there.
Met with the team ... Told the players why he's excited to be there. Called it a special place. The Jesuit values of being for others. Stayed in the dorms here between camp sessions. When the opportunity came he said he's there because of the players at BC. He's watched the players here. Told them what he's all about as a person.
Three areas of focus ... 1) Going to be tough. Look tough, walk tough. 2) Love. Really important to Hafley. In the world right now, in college football, it's tough. Need to love each other. More than a word or feeling, it's an action. 3) Going to compete in everything they do. Wake up and compete. Go to school and compete. Compete with ourselves and each other.
"I have to go back ..." He wishes he could stay and start working now "but I have to go win a national championship. I owe it to them..." But he wants to lock arms, with the alumni, faculty, students. Have to do it together. It's going to be hard and there will be work "but it's going to be real". When it's done the right way it's real and it's going to be worth it."
The goal ... Said he wants BC to be a top-25 program. Wants there to be magical moments, seasons, like with Flutie and Ryan. Need to bring back those magical moments to the Heights. That's what he plans on doing. "I'm in. I'm here and I'm in."
To the students and community ... Issued a charge to the community, students, everyone around the program to buy in and be a part of what they're doing.
On Gene Smith ... Asked if Jarmond's association smoothed it out, Jarmond said it did and didn't. Smith has been his mentor so it helped. But when he called and said he wanted one of his guys, he didn't know how that would be received because he knows how valuable he is. Said just as a courtesy, "one of your guys is really high on my list," Smith's response was "wow". It became easier after he talked to Ryan Day. Didn't want to be disruptive to their push for a championship.
Why BC from a football perspective ... "It was more than just football". Grew up in North Jersey, knew about BC his entire life growing up. The university, the values he talked about. Started to watch the team.
"This is not a rebuild" ... Echoing what Jarmond said at the start of the search, said they have a foundation and not starting from scratch.
Building a staff around him ... Hafley said the staff will be "everything". Told Jarmond in the process that players and coaches are what you win with. Facilities and everything are nice but you win with people. Need people with same values, some he's worked with and maybe some he hasn't. Has a good pool. "There's a lot of people that want to be here." Can't tell you how many calls he's gotten from people who want to be a part of it. Wants them to be the right fit.
On the collision of OSU in the playoffs and now BC ... Lot of people have asked about this. He sees it as a blessing more than a challenge. Gets to fulfill a dream of working for a national championship then when done with that can work on becoming a head coach, putting together a staff at a place he really wants to be. His wife might get mad because he might not see her or talk to her very much but sees it as a great opportunity.
On the overwhelmingly positive response to the BC hire ... It's been everything. Asked Jarmond how people are taking it because he hasn't had much time to look. Walked in today and got emotional to see so many people smiling. Will do everything he can do make people proud.
Jarmond on the hire ... An important hire for the community, he understood the magnitude and the position of leadership of head football coach. Took it seriously and prepared a lot. When you have a moment like this you have to take advantage and get it right. Did everything he could to prepare to get it right.
On selling BC to current players ... With Brown entering the portal, he knows it's his job to communicate with all these guys. Let them know who he is. Hasn't had the time to talk to everybody yet but is excited to do so. Will make sure he does that.
On the OSU culture that he can bring ... Hafley defers to Jarmond, "you're a Buckeye..." Jarmond said you win with people and it starts with people. There are great people there, Gene Smith, Ryan Day, Al Washington. Hafley said there's great people there. Great strength coach there. Urban Meyer and Jim Tressel did a great job. Has been consistency among the coaches and people there. You allow that to build and it's been exciting to learn from.
On being a college head coach ... Wants to change lives as well. Thought he would be a head coach and coordinator in the NFL but some things brought him back to college. One thing was to look at opportunity like this. In college you affect lives and change people. That's what life is all about. As head coach, not just a position coach or coordinator, he's excited about that.
In the NFL .. He learned a lot of football. Nothing but football for seven years. Prepared for a moment like this. Was around great people, great players. Wasn't afraid to ask players what they thought. Asked Richard Sherman lots of questions. It was about relationships in the NFL. Some of them said congratulations when he got the job, so that means it meant something to them.
Jarmond on what he's looked for in coaches ... Have to have alignment in what you're looking for. Integrity, passion, a drive to compete, and a teacher. Someone who doesn't just teach tackling, passing, but how to become a better person, better student, teammate. Leadership is the No. 1 thing. Hafley fit all of those. Has those qualities but also those intangibles. Chip on his shoulder. Jarmond likes someone who's hungry, just needs an opportunity. He understands that.
Not just a football coach ... Have to get to know people. It takes time. That's life. The most important thing to him is the relationships he has with family.
