Gunnell Returns to Coaching Staff as Running Backs Coach
January 10, 2020 | Football
Former BC standout retained by new head coach Jeff Hafley
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College head football coach Jeff Hafley has announced that Rich Gunnell has been retained on the staff as BC's running backs coach. Gunnell served as interim head coach for Boston College in the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl and just completed his fourth season as an assistant coach at his alma mater.
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"One of the first decisions on building our staff was to bring back Rich," said Hafley. "He did a tremendous job leading our program for the bowl game and we are excited to have him on our coaching staff."
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Gunnell was named interim head coach on Dec. 1, 2019 and spearheaded keeping together the early recruiting class for Boston College.
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Gunnell completed his fourth year as wide receivers coach at BC following the 2019 season. He oversaw the development of two converted high school quarterbacks into NFL wide receivers as both Michael Walker (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Jeff Smith (New York Jets) made the leap from BC to the NFL following the 2018 season.
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He was part of an offensive staff that registered the sixth-highest scoring offense in school history in 2018 as the Eagles averaged 32.0 points per game.
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Over the last six regular season games in 2017, BC averaged 36 points per game and outscored the opposition by 19 points per contest including wins over Florida State (35-3), at Louisville (45-42) and at Virginia (41-10). BC scored 35+ points in three consecutive games for the first time since 2002 and scored 40+ points in consecutive conference games for the first time in school history in the BIG EAST and ACC in 2017.
The New Jersey native came to the Eagles after almost a two-year stint as the head coach at Marian High School in Framingham, Mass.
He worked on the BC staff as graduate assistant for two years (2012-13) and spent the previous season as the assistant defensive line coach at Tufts.
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A four-year wide receiver for the Eagles from 2006-09, he was captain and team MVP in 2009 and earned honorable mention All-ACC honors.
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Gunnell ranks third in BC history in receptions (181), second in receiving yards (2,459), fourth in touchdown receptions (18) and tied for second with eight 100-yard receiving games.
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The Gunnell File
Birthday:Â January 12, 1987
Hometown:Â East Windsor, N.J.
Alma Mater:Â Boston College, 2010
Degrees: Communication, 2010; M.S. administrative studies, 2014)
Family:Â Wife Jenn; Children Shay, Kellan
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Coaching Career
2019:Â Boston College (Interim Head Coach, Birmingham Bowl)
2016-19: Boston College (Wide Receivers)
2014-15: Marian High School (Head Coach)
2012-13: Boston College (Graduate Assistant)
2011: Tufts (Assistant Defensive Line)
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"One of the first decisions on building our staff was to bring back Rich," said Hafley. "He did a tremendous job leading our program for the bowl game and we are excited to have him on our coaching staff."
Â
Gunnell was named interim head coach on Dec. 1, 2019 and spearheaded keeping together the early recruiting class for Boston College.
Â
Gunnell completed his fourth year as wide receivers coach at BC following the 2019 season. He oversaw the development of two converted high school quarterbacks into NFL wide receivers as both Michael Walker (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Jeff Smith (New York Jets) made the leap from BC to the NFL following the 2018 season.
Â
He was part of an offensive staff that registered the sixth-highest scoring offense in school history in 2018 as the Eagles averaged 32.0 points per game.
Â
Over the last six regular season games in 2017, BC averaged 36 points per game and outscored the opposition by 19 points per contest including wins over Florida State (35-3), at Louisville (45-42) and at Virginia (41-10). BC scored 35+ points in three consecutive games for the first time since 2002 and scored 40+ points in consecutive conference games for the first time in school history in the BIG EAST and ACC in 2017.
The New Jersey native came to the Eagles after almost a two-year stint as the head coach at Marian High School in Framingham, Mass.
He worked on the BC staff as graduate assistant for two years (2012-13) and spent the previous season as the assistant defensive line coach at Tufts.
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A four-year wide receiver for the Eagles from 2006-09, he was captain and team MVP in 2009 and earned honorable mention All-ACC honors.
Â
Gunnell ranks third in BC history in receptions (181), second in receiving yards (2,459), fourth in touchdown receptions (18) and tied for second with eight 100-yard receiving games.
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The Gunnell File
Birthday:Â January 12, 1987
Hometown:Â East Windsor, N.J.
Alma Mater:Â Boston College, 2010
Degrees: Communication, 2010; M.S. administrative studies, 2014)
Family:Â Wife Jenn; Children Shay, Kellan
Â
Coaching Career
2019:Â Boston College (Interim Head Coach, Birmingham Bowl)
2016-19: Boston College (Wide Receivers)
2014-15: Marian High School (Head Coach)
2012-13: Boston College (Graduate Assistant)
2011: Tufts (Assistant Defensive Line)
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Players Mentioned
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