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GENE DEFILIPPODirector <strong>of</strong> AthleticsFootball fans <strong>of</strong> the SoutheasternConference once had a devilishly delightfulpractice reminiscent <strong>of</strong> Delilah’s snippinga lock <strong>of</strong> Samson’s hair. It was a triumph<strong>of</strong> the greatest magnitude for anyonewho could pilfer the distinctiveStetson hat that was always worn – outdoorsonly – by Alabama football coachPaul “Bear” Bryant.There’s no record <strong>of</strong> how many daringpeople were able to purloin Bear’s holyhoundstooth, but one <strong>of</strong> them, back in1974, was a kindergarten teacher namedAnne DeFilippo. She spirited the chapeauaway from the coatroom <strong>of</strong> a Knoxville,Tennessee restaurant. Her husband Gene,then a grad assistant coach at the University<strong>of</strong> Tennessee, gleefully wore it on the drivehome.The DeFilippo family: Matt Eldred, Katherine Eldred,Christine (DeFilippo) Eldred, Anne, Gene, Mary, and John.uate studies. At age 25, Gene became <strong>of</strong>fensivecoordinator at Youngstown State. Sevenyears <strong>of</strong> coaching there and at Vanderbilt layahead before he moved to administration atVandy under Roy Kramer. His experience asa coach shaped his philosophy <strong>of</strong> managementin positions that followed at SouthCarolina-Spartanburg, Kentucky, Villanova,and Boston College.“I used to tell my players four things. First,work hard. We all have troubles and problems,but for two hours, let’s check our problemsand egos at the door. Second, worksmart. Follow the plan. Your coaches haveburned the midnight candle to put it together.Third, play together. The best playersdon’t always win, but the best team does.And fourth, have fun.”“I’ve seen the cat skinned so many differentways. There are lots <strong>of</strong> ways to be successful.I also learned that if you’re going to make afriend, you’ve first got to be a friend,” headds.Gene’s colleague Leo Sullivan, remarked,“The thing that most impresses me mostabout Gene is his energy. He’s always going<strong>of</strong>f in six different directions. He’s on thephone constantly – the number <strong>of</strong> peoplewho seek him out for advice is amazing.”When Gene arrived on campus, football andhockey were mired in down cycles and theNational Women’s Law Center had named BCin a Title IX class action lawsuit that took fiveyears to resolve. That was then.The DeFilippo legacy is still very much awork in progress, but on the eve <strong>of</strong> his <strong>Hall</strong><strong>of</strong> <strong>Fame</strong> induction his era at the helm hasincluded 12 football bowl appearances; 14NCAA berths for men’s and women’s basketball;three national titles in men’s hockey;2010 INDUCTEEBryant was one <strong>of</strong> Gene DeFilippo’s pr<strong>of</strong>essionalidols, and he still is. But after watchingTexas defeat Navy in the 1964 CottonBowl, and witnessing a dashing youngLonghorn coach being carried <strong>of</strong>f the field byhis players, the Northampton, Massachusettseighth grader didn’t want to be Bear Bryant.He wanted to be Darrell Royal.“I thought that would be the greatest thing inthe world. To put together a team, to getthem to play together, to work together,” hesaid.That was the beginning. There would bemany stops along the way for Gene and theformer Anne Foley, his high school sweetheart,before he assumed the duties <strong>of</strong>Boston College athletics director onSeptember 16, 1997. They were marriedwhen Gene was entering senior year atSpringfield College. A wishbone quarterbackfor coach Ted Dunn, he wanted nothing morethan to coach college football.So in the spring he wrote letters to dozens <strong>of</strong>football coaches around the country. Almostall responded with polite declines. But two <strong>of</strong>the best, Bill Battle and Joe Paterno, <strong>of</strong>feredencouragement. Gene and Anne hopped intoher Volkswagen, drove 22 hours toKnoxville, and grabbed the opportunity thatBattle <strong>of</strong>fered. Gene could coach the JV backsand run the scout team. There would be nopay, and he’d have to foot the tuition bill forhis master’s degree.Battle also helped Anne land a teaching slot,and the DeFilippos were <strong>of</strong>f on their familyand career adventure. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Earl Ramer,president <strong>of</strong> the NCAA, guided Gene in gradnewand improved indoor and outdoorfacilities; and a 100% graduation rate for21 sports in both 2009 and 2010.Ask Gene about his tenure at BostonCollege, and he’ll point to his staff – somehe hired, others were here when hearrived. “Ask anybody in the ACC, andthey’ll tell you that Boston College has thebest department in the conference. That’sone thing I’m really proud <strong>of</strong> – the greatpeople we have. I see my job as athleticsdirector to provide leadership and organization,and then to provide the climateand the resources necessary for our peopleto do their jobs.”Commissioner John Sw<strong>of</strong>ford <strong>of</strong> the ACCstates, “Gene is unquestionably one <strong>of</strong> thebest athletic directors in the business. He’sstood the test <strong>of</strong> time, faced different challengesat different institutions, and donethings the right way. He’s a people personwith a great sense <strong>of</strong> humor but insidethere’s a burning intensity for excellence inwhatever he’s a part <strong>of</strong>. “Gene is a voracious reader, and leadership ishis favorite subject. Every summer, hereturns to Bill Walsh’s “Building aChampion: On Football and the Making <strong>of</strong> aChampion.” He’s also devoured works byand about Pope John Paul II, GeorgeWashington, Vince Lombardi, Pop Warner,Abe Lincoln and many others. But thoughhe greatly admires Lombardi, Gene pointsout how sad it was that Vince seldom foundtime to play ball or spend time with his ownchildren.Gene and Anne have three children.Christine (Eldred) is the mother <strong>of</strong>Katherine, their first grandchild. John is<strong>of</strong>fensive coordinator at San Jose State.Mary played lacrosse at BC, graduated in2007, and works for Fenway SportsManagement.DeFilippo seldom had time for golf when thekids were young, recently but he’s made upfor that. He and Anne have been to Italy ahalf-dozen times. Over there, in the oldcountry, Gene discovered that he was a buddingoenophile. He smiles,“I like nothing better than sitting on theback porch, sipping red Italian wine.”Life’s good at the DeFilippos’. And thanks toGene, athletic life at Boston College isextremely good as well.9