Feb. 11, 2000

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Bill McGovern, defensive backs coach at the University of Pittsburgh the past three years and a former member of the Boston College football coaching staff, has been named linebackers coach at BC, Head Coach Tom O'Brien announced Friday. McGovern replaces Al Golden, who left this past week to accept a similar position at Penn State University.

"I am very pleased to announce that Bill has joined our staff," O'Brien said. "Bill is very familiar with Boston College football, having been a member of the BC staff in the past. He also has had great success recruiting in the state of New Jersey, which has been crucial to our program the past few years."

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 Football Team.

He began his coaching career in 1985 as freshmen coach at the University of Pennsylvania. He served as a part-time coach at his alma mater from 1986-87 and defensive backs/kickers coach in 1991, defensive backs coach at the University of Massachusetts from 1987-90 and defensive coordinator/special teams coordinator, 1992-93, and defensive backs coach at BC from 1994-96 (and interim defensive coordinator in 1995) before accepting his most recent position, at Pittsburgh, in 1997.

While at BC, McGovern played a crucial role in recruiting New Jersey natives Pedro Cirino, Frank Chamberlin, Anthony DiCosmo and Mike Guazzo to Boston College. At Pittsburgh, he recruited Gerald Hayes, Ryan Gonsales and Saul Freund, all from New Jersey, to play for the Panthers.

This past season, two of McGovern's players (Hank Poteat and Ramone Walker) were first-team All-BIG EAST selections.

"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to come back to Boston College," McGovern says. "It is a great University in a great city. I am looking forward to joining coach O'Brien's staff and trying to continue the outstanding job they have done the past three years."