Stone: Hafley Has An Important Decision To Make
With the recent report that BC and offensive coordinator John McNulty will be parting ways, head coach Jeff Hafley had to begin his search immediately.
With recruiting now a never-ending cycle and spring ball just a couple months away, a hire within the next week or so is probably not out of the question. Outside candidates will obviously be considered, but it feels like this one should stay in-house this time.
Hafley is choosing a third OC in what will be his fourth season in Chestnut Hill. This one has to be right, so why not promote someone from within with direct knowledge and experience within your vision?
Steve Shimko is a very intriguing option and has more than paid his dues. Shimko was a 6’6, 210lb. QB coming out of Ewing, NJ before commuting to Rutgers. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury cut his career short, but the amount of knowledge he’s gained while working at various places around the country most likely can’t be matched by other candidates available right now.
He’s like a version of “The Most interesting Man in the World” for college football.
Shimko has worked at his alma mater Rutgers under Greg Schiano, Western Michigan, then with Brian Schottenheimer when he was Georgia’s OC in 2015. He helped tutor Russell Wilson, coached at Garden City Community College (Kan.) where he won a NJACC National Championship and worked as an offensive assistant under Pete Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks for two years.
Shimko has been at BC for three the last years and last season was his first as quarterbacks coach after two years with the tight ends, which included helping Hunter Long get drafted in the third round. It also means he was with the (probable) 2023 starting QB Emmett Morehead more than anyone else last season on a day-to-day basis.Kliff Kingsbury would be a wild move and is most likely a fantasy-land scenario. Mike LaFleur - recently fired by the Jets - and Hafley have worked together in the past during Hafley’s NFL days, so he’s definitely an option, but going with the in-house guy feels like the best course of action with where this team is at right now. Morehead and the offense showed promise towards the end of last season, particularly against NC State, bringing in a new voice may only stunt their development as players. Shimko is more than qualified and can help guys like Joe Griffin continue to flourish without them having to learn a completely new offense.
Whether this prediction of sorts is right or not remains to be seen, but the search is going to be fascinating no matter what happens, especially with how big of a decision it is for the future of this team and the head coach.