Former University of Maine linebacker Jeff Comissiong’s stint as the defensive coordinator at his alma mater was short-lived.
UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens verified that Comissiong is leaving to become the defensive line coach at Boston College.
Boston College is a Football Bowl Subdivision team while UMaine is a Football Championship Subdivision school. FBS schools have 22 more scholarships than FCS institutions and many more resources.
Bill O’Brien, who was the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots this past season, was named the new head coach at Boston College and has been putting together his coaching staff.
It will be Comissiong’s second stint at Boston College as he was their defensive line coach from 2007-13. He was also involved in recruiting.
Comissiong was a four-year letterwinner at UMaine and was a starting linebacker for two seasons under head coaches Kirk Ferentz and Jack Cosgrove. He graduated with a degree in political science.
He began his coaching career as the defensive line coach at Bates College in Lewiston from 1998-2000 and served as a student assistant coach at UMaine the previous two seasons.
He returned to UMaine in 2000 where he spent one season as the running backs coach before taking over defensive line responsibilities the next year.
He went on to coach at Cornell, Hampton University, Old Dominion and Harvard in addition to his stops at UMaine, Bates and Boston College.
He will join a BC program that was 7-6 last season, 3-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and beat Southern Methodist 23-14 in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Boston’s Fenway Park.
UMaine went 2-9 this past season, 2-6 in the Coastal Athletic Association.
The Black Bears’ youthful, inexperienced and injury-riddled defense finished in the bottom third in most defensive categories in the CAA including points allowed (36.1 points per game in conference play, 13th among 15 teams), rushing yards allowed (188.3, 13th), passing yards allowed (244.4, 11th) and total yards allowed (432.6, 12th).
It was the best defense in the league when it came to stopping fourth down conversions as it stopped 10 of 14 attempts.
