Bill McGovern Position: Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers Experience: 10th Season

Bill McGovern is entering his 10th season and 13th overall with Boston College but his first as the newly appointed defensive coordinator. For the last nine seasons, McGovern served as the Eagles' linebackers coach.

In 2008, McGovern coached a linebacking corps that was a key part of a defense that ranked fifth in the country and first in the ACC in total defense, allowing 286.14 yards per game. The BC defense ranked in the top 10 nationally in seven different categories including interceptions (first, 26), turnovers gained (second, 36), total defense (fifth, 286.14), red zone defense (sixth, .72), rush defense (seventh, 91.2), pass efficiency defense (seventh, 98.81) and first downs defense (sixth, 14.71).

McGovern developed Mark Herzlich into one of the top linebackers in the country last year. In addition to being named ACC Defensive Player of the Year, he was a finalist for the Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's top linebacker. Herzlich was an All-ACC First Team honoree, a three-time conference player of the week, and a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy.

Herzlich led BC with 81 solo tackles and 110 total stops. He also paced the defense with six interceptions, eight pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, and a pair of fumble recoveries. He was one of only two linebackers in the country to pick off six passes. That number was also the eighth-highest total in the nation (seven were tied with seven). He was one of four linebackers in the country with two interception returns for touchdowns.

In 2007, McGovern oversaw a linebacking corps that included All-ACC second-team selection Jo-Lonn Dunbar and rising stars Mark Herzlich, Mike McLaughlin, Robert Francois and Kevin Akins. Both Dunbar and Herzlich placed within the top 20 of the ACC in total tackles and the BC defense ranked in the top 20 nationally for scoring and total defense. He helped coach a defense that ranked second in the nation and led the ACC in rush defense, allowing just 75.5 yards per game. The BC defense also ranked second in the ACC in red zone defense, keeping opponents from scoring nearly 72 percent of the time.

McGovern was part of a staff that led the Eagles to an 11-3 finish, the first BC team to win 11 games since 1940. The 2007 Eagles began the season 8-0 and were ranked No. 2 in the nation in both major polls. The team won the Atlantic Division of the ACC and went on to win an eighth consecutive bowl game, the longest active bowl game winning streak in America. The Eagles finished 10th in the final AP poll, BC's best finish since the 1984 season.

McGovern came to BC in 2000 after serving as defensive backs coach at Pittsburgh for three seasons. At Pitt, he coached two first-team All-Big East selections (Hank Poteat and Ramon Walker) in 1999. He began his coaching career in 1985 as freshman coach at the University of Pennsylvania. He served as a part-time coach at his alma mater, Holy Cross, from 1986-87 and defensive backs/kickers coach in 1991; defensive backs coach at the University of Massachusetts from 1987-90 and defensive coordinator 1992-93; and defensive backs coach at BC from 1994-96 (and interim defensive coordinator in 1995) before accepting the Pittsburgh position.

McGovern has become known as one of the top recruiters in the Northeast and his linebackers have received numerous ACC and Big East honors. In 2006, in fact, Dunbar was named National Defensive Player of the Week when he scored two of BC's three defensive touchdowns vs. Maryland. Dunbar was also named MVP of the 2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl when he finished with a game-high 14 tackles (10 solos) and a key fumble recovery late in the game that led to a last-second field goal to secure BC's 25-24 win over Navy.

McGovern has coached or recruited notable BC linebackers including Frank Chamberlin, Scott Bradley, Vinny Ciurciu, Josh Ott, Ricky Brown, Ray Henderson and Brian Toal. In 2004, Henderson (two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Week) topped the Big East with .5 interceptions per game (fourth in the nation) and Toal was named Big East Rookie of the Year.

A native of Oradell, N.J., McGovern was a four-year starter at defensive back for Holy Cross before his graduation in 1985. He set a single-season record for interceptions (11) for I-AA and was a consensus first-team All-America (I-AA) selection in 1985. He is a member of the Holy Cross Hall of Fame and has been named to the Bergen County (N.J.) All-Century Team.

McGovern played a key role in recruiting New Jersey linebackers Frank Chamberlin and Gerald Hayes, both of whom went on to play in the NFL.

McGovern has coached in 10 collegiate bowl games, including the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl, the 2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl, the 2005 MPC Computers Bowl, the 2004 Continental Tire Bowl, the 2003 Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl, the 2002 Motor City Bowl, the 2001 Music City Bowl, the 2000 Aloha Bowl, the 1994 Aloha Bowl (in his first stint at BC) and the 1997 Liberty Bowl with Pittsburgh.

McGovern lives in Ashland with his wife, Colleen, and daughters Amanda, Delainey and MacKenzie.