 Spaziani in 2012 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1947-04-01)April 1, 1947 (age 78) Clark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1965–1968 | Penn State |
| Positions | Linebacker,quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1969 | Penn State (GA) |
| 1975–1977 | Navy (TE/OT) |
| 1977–1981 | Navy (DB) |
| 1982–1985 | Virginia (DB) |
| 1985–1991 | Virginia (DB/DC) |
| 1992–1993 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers (DC) |
| 1994–1996 | Calgary Stampeders (DC) |
| 1997–1998 | Boston College (RB) |
| 1999–2008 | Boston College (DC) |
| 2009–2012 | Boston College |
| 2016–2021 | New Mexico State (DC) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 22–29 |
| Bowls | 1–2 |
Frank Joseph Spaziani (born April 1, 1947) is an Americanfootball coach and former player. He served as the head football coach atBoston College from 2009 to 2012, compiling a record of 22 wins and 29 losses. Prior to becoming head coach, Spaziani served on theEagles' coaching staff for 12 years, the last 10 asdefensive coordinator. He also served asdefensive coordinator atNew Mexico State from 2016 to 2021.
Spaziani is a native ofClark, New Jersey and a graduate ofArthur L. Johnson High School.[1]Spaziani playedquarterback andlinebacker for thePenn State Nittany Lions from 1965 to 1968. He was a member of the teams that went to the1967 Gator Bowl and the1969 Orange Bowl.[2] He was the subject of one ofJoe Paterno's notable early quotes: the Nittany Lions' coach said of Spaziani, "Don't get the idea that I like him because he's Italian. I like him because I'm Italian."[3]
Spaziani was also a startingpitcher for thePenn State baseball team.
Spaziani coached in theCanadian Football League (CFL) as a defensive coordinator for theWinnipeg Blue Bombers (two seasons) andCalgary Stampeders (three years).[2] He helped to lead the Blue Bombers to the1992 and1993Grey Cups and the Stampeders to the83rd Grey Cup in 1995.
In 1997, Spaziani left the Calgary Stampeders for a position asrunning backs coach for theBoston College Eagles.[4] Coached by Spaziani,Boston College'sMike Cloud was a consensusfirst-team All-America selection and a finalist for the 1998Doak Walker Award. Cloud also set aBig East and school single-season rushing record with 1,726 yards in 1998.
In 1999, he replacedTim Rose as defensive coordinator, becoming Boston College's seventh defensive coordinator in the 1990s.
In 2001, the Boston College defense ranked 12th nationally in passing defense, 10th in pass efficiency defense, 19th in scoring defense and 25th in total defense. In 2002, they were ranked 13th nationally in passing defense, 25th in pass efficiency defense, 23rd in scoring defense and 37th in total defense. In 2003, they were ranked second in the Big East in total defense and second in rushing defense. In 2004, they were ranked first in the Big East. The Eagles ranked second in the Big East and 31st in the country in total defense and first in the Big East and 12th in the country in scoring defense.Mathias Kiwanuka was the 2004 Big East Defensive Player of the Year.
Spaziani was named interim head coach for Boston College twice. In December 2006, after the departure ofTom O'Brien, he coached Boston College to a win versus Navy on December 30, 2006, in theMeineke Car Care Bowl.[2] However,Jeff Jagodzinski was hired as the permanent head coach. Spaziani was also named interim coach after Jagodzinski was fired on January 7, 2009, for interviewing for the open head coaching position with theNew York Jets. Known for concocting elaborate defensive schemes, "Spaz" was given an honorary PhD from the school in 2008. On January 13, 2009, Spaziani was officially hired as the Eagles' permanent head coach.[5]
Spaziani was fired on November 25, 2012, following a season in which Boston College went 2–10, the worst record since 1978.[6]
On January 8, 2016, Spanziani was hired to be thedefensive coordinator for theNew Mexico State Aggies football team.[7]
Spaziani is married to Laura Spaziani (née Heikel); they have two sons and one daughter.[2] They reside inHingham, Massachusetts. He is a brother ofSigma Pi fraternity International.[8]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston College Eagles(Atlantic Coast Conference)(2006) | |||||||||
| 2006 | Boston College | 1–0[n 1] | 0–0[n 1] | WMeineke Car Care | 20 | 20 | |||
| Boston College Eagles(Atlantic Coast Conference)(2009–2012) | |||||||||
| 2009 | Boston College | 8–5 | 5–3 | 2nd(Atlantic) | LEmerald | ||||
| 2010 | Boston College | 7–6 | 4–4 | T–4th(Atlantic) | LFight Hunger | ||||
| 2011 | Boston College | 4–8 | 3–5 | 5th(Atlantic) | |||||
| 2012 | Boston College | 2–10 | 1–7 | 6th(Atlantic) | |||||
| Boston College: | 22–29 | 13–19 | |||||||
| Total: | 22–29 | ||||||||
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