What you should know about reported BC search target Jeff Hafley
Justin Rowland • EagleAction
Staff Edit
Shortly after the Boston College decision on Steve Addazio was made, the internet quickly became populated with lists of reported candidates of interest and, more commonly, lists made of mostly speculation -- but intelligent, reasoned speculation at that.
Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley made his way onto both kinds of lists: Those that began with, "These names would make sense," and some that claimed the backing of sources.
Eagle Action has reported that there is a definite buzz about Hafley as a leading possibility without reporting he is absolutely the No. 1 candidate. He seems to be near the top of the list based on those we've spoken with, and as of a little while ago at least one well-placed source in the football world believed he would be interviewing. We cannot confirm if such a formal meeting has taken place.
Since Hafley is now obviously someone of interest, here we take a closer look at his career, what attributes he might bring to the table, and what those with more expertise have learned about him over the years.
Candidate: Jeff Hafley
Current Role: Co-defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach at Ohio State
Age: 40
Birthplace: Montvale, N.J.
Education: Siena, U of Albany
Previous Positions: Hafley had very modest beginnings compared to many of his Power Five coordinator peers, many of whom themselves began as grad assistants or at the bottom of the ladder. In 2001, Hafley got his first coaching gig: RB's coach for Worcester Polytechnic in Massachusetts.
He spent the next four years (2002-2005) at Albany as a defensive assistant then as secondary coach and recruiting coordinator.
Hafley's first big break came in 2006 when he became a defensive assistant with the Pitt Panthers and after two years in that role he was promoted to secondary coach, a position he held for three years until he moved onto the same role at Rutgers.
When Greg Schiano left Rutgers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he again hired Hafley, but as an assistant secondary coach. It only took one year for him to secure the actual defensive backfield coaching position (2013). He held the same position with the Cleveland Browns (2014-2015), and then the San Francisco 49ers (2016-2018) before returning to the collegiate level for his current co-defensive coordinator opportunity with the Buckeyes.
Personal: He has a wife, Gina, and daughters, Hope and Leah.
What Stands Out?
In spite of being in coaching for 19 years now, Hafley has never held the same position with the same team or franchise for more than three seasons. That is in part the reality for assistant coaches, and also a testament to his being in-demand by various reputable coaches including Dave Wannstedt (Pitt), Schiano (Rutgers, Tampa Bay), Chip Kelly, and Kyle Shanahan (49ers), more recently coveted by Urban Meyer replacement Ryan Day.
His coaching history indicates heavy experience working with defensive backs
Hafley was mentioned as a candidate for the Rutgers opening before the Scarlet Knights brought Schiano back to his former position.
On his bio on the Ohio State athletics website, Hafley comes with the recommendation of Pro Bowler Richard Sherman, who said, “His preparation is some of the best I’ve seen. I’ve had some great defensive back coaches, some great defensive coaches and defensive minds. He is right up there with his preparation and how he breaks down film … how easy and simple he makes the game plan sound and how easy he makes it for guys to understand. He paints a very vivid picture of what you are going to see and [then] it’s all about execution.”
One Educated Take: Eagle Action reached out to Marc Givler of BuckeyeGrove.com here on the Rivals.com network. He covers OSU recruiting as closely as anyone and knows a bit about what Hafley has done there in short order. He's also seen first hand what Hafley has contributed to the defense.
"Hafley has been a huge addition to the Ohio State coaching staff and has made a noticeable difference in the development of a secondary that struggled mightily at times last year and turned them into arguably the nation's best this year," Givler said. "He has also proven to be a dynamic recruiter going to places like California and Texas and landing elite players in the 2020 class for Ohio State. Recruiting is so important to any program and really any head coaching hire in this landscape needs to be a good recruiter and Hafley has certainly proven to be that. He also has great respect from the players he has coached at Ohio State and in the NFL. Guys like Richard Sherman and Jeffrey Okudah have really praised him as a guy who knows his stuff. With his ties to the Northeast part of the country and his ability to recruit that region at past college coaching stops it would seem to me that he could really improve the quality of prospect that Boston College could attract."
Pros: Youth and ability to relate with college student-athletes; experience at the highest level of college football (Ohio State) and in multiple Power Five programs with reputable coaches as well as the NFL, which speaks to his credibility with accomplished football figures and could be a recruiting benefit as well; Roots in the region; Recognized as a strong recruiter.
Cons: No head coaching experience at any level
Justin Rowland • EagleAction
Staff Edit
Shortly after the Boston College decision on Steve Addazio was made, the internet quickly became populated with lists of reported candidates of interest and, more commonly, lists made of mostly speculation -- but intelligent, reasoned speculation at that.
Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley made his way onto both kinds of lists: Those that began with, "These names would make sense," and some that claimed the backing of sources.
Eagle Action has reported that there is a definite buzz about Hafley as a leading possibility without reporting he is absolutely the No. 1 candidate. He seems to be near the top of the list based on those we've spoken with, and as of a little while ago at least one well-placed source in the football world believed he would be interviewing. We cannot confirm if such a formal meeting has taken place.
Since Hafley is now obviously someone of interest, here we take a closer look at his career, what attributes he might bring to the table, and what those with more expertise have learned about him over the years.
Candidate: Jeff Hafley
Current Role: Co-defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach at Ohio State
Age: 40
Birthplace: Montvale, N.J.
Education: Siena, U of Albany
Previous Positions: Hafley had very modest beginnings compared to many of his Power Five coordinator peers, many of whom themselves began as grad assistants or at the bottom of the ladder. In 2001, Hafley got his first coaching gig: RB's coach for Worcester Polytechnic in Massachusetts.
He spent the next four years (2002-2005) at Albany as a defensive assistant then as secondary coach and recruiting coordinator.
Hafley's first big break came in 2006 when he became a defensive assistant with the Pitt Panthers and after two years in that role he was promoted to secondary coach, a position he held for three years until he moved onto the same role at Rutgers.
When Greg Schiano left Rutgers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he again hired Hafley, but as an assistant secondary coach. It only took one year for him to secure the actual defensive backfield coaching position (2013). He held the same position with the Cleveland Browns (2014-2015), and then the San Francisco 49ers (2016-2018) before returning to the collegiate level for his current co-defensive coordinator opportunity with the Buckeyes.
Personal: He has a wife, Gina, and daughters, Hope and Leah.
What Stands Out?
In spite of being in coaching for 19 years now, Hafley has never held the same position with the same team or franchise for more than three seasons. That is in part the reality for assistant coaches, and also a testament to his being in-demand by various reputable coaches including Dave Wannstedt (Pitt), Schiano (Rutgers, Tampa Bay), Chip Kelly, and Kyle Shanahan (49ers), more recently coveted by Urban Meyer replacement Ryan Day.
His coaching history indicates heavy experience working with defensive backs
Hafley was mentioned as a candidate for the Rutgers opening before the Scarlet Knights brought Schiano back to his former position.
On his bio on the Ohio State athletics website, Hafley comes with the recommendation of Pro Bowler Richard Sherman, who said, “His preparation is some of the best I’ve seen. I’ve had some great defensive back coaches, some great defensive coaches and defensive minds. He is right up there with his preparation and how he breaks down film … how easy and simple he makes the game plan sound and how easy he makes it for guys to understand. He paints a very vivid picture of what you are going to see and [then] it’s all about execution.”
One Educated Take: Eagle Action reached out to Marc Givler of BuckeyeGrove.com here on the Rivals.com network. He covers OSU recruiting as closely as anyone and knows a bit about what Hafley has done there in short order. He's also seen first hand what Hafley has contributed to the defense.
"Hafley has been a huge addition to the Ohio State coaching staff and has made a noticeable difference in the development of a secondary that struggled mightily at times last year and turned them into arguably the nation's best this year," Givler said. "He has also proven to be a dynamic recruiter going to places like California and Texas and landing elite players in the 2020 class for Ohio State. Recruiting is so important to any program and really any head coaching hire in this landscape needs to be a good recruiter and Hafley has certainly proven to be that. He also has great respect from the players he has coached at Ohio State and in the NFL. Guys like Richard Sherman and Jeffrey Okudah have really praised him as a guy who knows his stuff. With his ties to the Northeast part of the country and his ability to recruit that region at past college coaching stops it would seem to me that he could really improve the quality of prospect that Boston College could attract."
Pros: Youth and ability to relate with college student-athletes; experience at the highest level of college football (Ohio State) and in multiple Power Five programs with reputable coaches as well as the NFL, which speaks to his credibility with accomplished football figures and could be a recruiting benefit as well; Roots in the region; Recognized as a strong recruiter.
Cons: No head coaching experience at any level
