Boston College turns to Rich Gunnell as interim coach

Posted December 02, 2019 6:00 am

By JIMMY GOLEN

FILE - This 2010 photo shows Rich Gunnell after he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs NFL football team. Gunnell, who became wide receivers coach at his Alma Mater Boston College, was named the school's interim football coach after head coach Steve Addazio was fired on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019.(AP Photo, File) The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) - Boston College turned to assistant and former Eagles receiver Rich Gunnell as interim coach Monday while it looks for a permanent successor to Steve Addazio and tries to return to the days when it was nationally ranked.

'œWe're not taking a step back, this is a step forward,'ť athletic director Martin Jarmond said a day after Addazio was fired following seven seasons in which the BC never won more than seven games. 'œThis is a launch pad now.'ť

Gunnell was a receiver on the BC teams that Matt Ryan led to Atlantic Coast Conference title games in 2007 and '08. Gunnell caught a touchdown pass from Ryan in the final two minutes at Clemson to clinch a spot in the 2008 ACC championship game - one of the high points in the program's recent history.

BC lost to Clemson 59-7 this year and never beat the Tigers in under Addazio, who was fired Sunday.

Gunnell has spent the last four years as the wide receivers coach in Chestnut Hill. He will not interview for the full-time job, Jarmond said; Gunnell declined to say why.

Instead, the school will conduct a national search for Addazio's full-time replacement. Jarmond said he hoped to have a decision by the early recruiting deadline on Dec. 18.

In the meantime, the school is talking to bowl games about where it will play this postseason. The Eagles earned the right to play in a bowl after beating Pittsburgh 26-19 on Saturday.

'œWe're excited about it,'ť Jarmond said. 'œIt really just got started because we got our sixth win.'ť

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FILE - In this file photo from Nov. 30, 2019, Boston College head coach Steve Addazio, left, takes the field with offensive lineman John Phillips (70) and the rest of the team to play against Pittsburgh in an NCAA college football game, in Pittsburgh. Boston College fired Addazio on Sunday, Dec. 1, after seven seasons in which the Eagles never surpassed seven wins. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file Boston College head coach Steve Addazio, right, greets quarterback Dennis Grosel (6) during an NCAA college football game, in Pittsburgh. Boston College fired Addazio on Sunday, Dec. 1, after seven seasons in which the Eagles never surpassed seven wins. Addazio was 44-44 since taking over in 2013. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File) The Associated Press

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