Danny Rocco (Richmond - head coach): In his first season as the Richmond head coach, Rocco led the Spiders to an 8-3 record while claiming the Colonial Athletic Association championship. He previously served as the head coach at Liberty, where he led the program to six consecutive winning seasons and four Big South Conference championships. Rocco is a former Boston College defensive line coach under Tom Coughlin from 1991-1993.
Sean McDonnell (New Hampshire - head coach): Sean McDonnell is 88-55 in twelve seasons at the New Hampshire head coach. In the last three seasons, McDonnell has led his program to 28-11 record. He was the 2005 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year and three-time New England Coach of the Year (2005, 2008, 2010). McDonnell served as a grad assistant at Boston College in 1988. He served on the Boston University staff from 1985-87.
Mike Sherman (Miami Dolphins - offensive coordinator): Sherman is in the first season as the Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator after four seasons as the head coach at Texas A&M. Sherman (57) is from Norwood, Massachusetts. His parents live in Cape Cod.
Darrell Hazell (Kent State - head coach): In his second season as the Kent State head coach, Hazell has led the program to an 11-1 record. Kent State will play Northern Illinois on Friday night in the MAC championship. During his career, Hazell has coached at Oberlin, Eastern Illinois, Penn, Western Michigan, Army, West Virginia, Rutgers, and Ohio State. The last minority head coach (major sport) Boston College hired was basketball coach Al Skinner.
Houston Nutt (former Arkansas and Ole Miss head coach): On the surface, it seems like a stretch because Nutt has not coached in the northeast region, but don't be surprised if he enters the mix. Nutt (55) is a three-time SEC Coach of the Year.
Pat Narduzzi (Michigan State - defensive coordinator): Narduzzi (46) has done a terrific job as the defensive coordinator at Michigan State. He is originally from New Haven, CT. Narduzzi once coached at Rhode Island from 1993-1999.