Gene DeFilippo
{{Short description|American sports executive and college athletics administrator}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Gene DeFilippo
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = c. 1972
| player_team1 = Springfield (MA)
| player_positions = Quarterback
| coach_years1 = 1975–1979
| coach_team1 = Youngstown State (OC)
| coach_years2 = 1980–1982
| coach_team2 = Vanderbilt (offensive backfield)
| admin_years1 = 1984–1987
| admin_team1 = South Carolina–Spartanburg
| admin_years2 = 1987–1993
| admin_team2 = Kentucky (associate AD)
| admin_years3 = 1993–1997
| admin_team3 = Villanova
| admin_years4 = 1997–2012
| admin_team4 = Boston College
| overall_record =
| bowl_record =
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| championships =
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| coaching_records =
}}
Eugene Benard DeFilippo Jr. is an American sports executive and former college athletics administrator. He served as the athletic director at the University of South Carolina–Spartanburg—now known as the University of South Carolina Upstate—from 1984 to 1987, at Villanova University from 1993 to 1997, and at Boston College from 1997 to 2012.
Career
DeFilippo graduated from Springfield College in Massachusetts in 1973. There he played college football, lettering for three seasons as a quarterback. In 1974, DeFilippo completed a master's degree in educational administration at the University of Tennessee.{{cite web|url=http://www.bceagles.com/genrel/defilippo_gene00.html|title=Gene DeFilippo|publisher=Boston College|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527143906/http://www.bceagles.com/genrel/defilippo_gene00.html|archive-date=May 27, 2012|access-date=February 17, 2018}}
DeFilippo worked as an assistant football coach at Youngstown State University and at Vanderbilt University. He was an associate athletic director at the University of Kentucky from 1987 to 1993.{{cite news |title=AD Gene DeFilippo leaving BC |url=https://www.espn.com/boston/ncf/story/_/id/8278182/gene-defilippo-retiring-boston-college-eagles-athletic-director |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |date=August 17, 2012 |access-date=April 23, 2016 }}
Boston College named DeFilippo as athletic director on September 16, 1997 effective at the beginning of October.{{cite web|url=http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/rvp/pubaf/chronicle/v6/s18/defilippo.html|title=DeFilippo Is Named Athletic Director|author=Delaney, Patricia|publisher=Boston College|work=The Boston College Chronicle|access-date=February 17, 2018|date=September 18, 1997}} During DeFilippo’s tenure as athletics director, Boston College won four national championships in men’s ice hockey, 11 national team and individual championships in sailing, and had 12 consecutive winning seasons in football. He also oversaw Boston College’s move from the Big East to the Atlantic Coast Conference.{{cite news |title=BC Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo To Retire |url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/08/17/bc-athletic-director-gene-defilippo-to-retire/ |access-date=24 December 2021 |work=CBS Boston |date=August 17, 2012}} In 2009 he fired head football coach Jeff Jagodzinski after Jagodzinski interviewed for the New York Jets head coaching job.[http://bceagles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010709aaa.html Boston College Terminates Employment of Football Coach Jeff Jagodzinski] He was replaced by longtime defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani, who led the team to consecutive losing seasons in 2011 and 2012.{{cite news |last1=Benbow |first1=Julian |title=Frank Spaziani fired as BC football coach |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/11/25/brad-bates-lowers-boom-boston-college-football-coach-frank-spaziani/gJ5d69koKnDgkI4kRdu8QN/story.html |access-date=24 December 2021 |work=The Boston Globe |date=November 25, 2012}} In 2010 he fired men's basketball coach Al Skinner after only his second losing season in ten years. Under Skinner, the Eagles made the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament seven times.{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/extras/colleges_blog/2010/03/bc_fires_skinne.html|title= BC fires Skinner|publisher=bostonglobe.com|date=2010-03-30 | first=Mark | last=Blaudschun}} BC would not return to the NCAA tournament under Skinner's successor, Steve Donahue, who had a 54-76 record in his four seasons as head coach, and they have not returned since.{{cite news |last1=Borzello |first1=Jeff |title=Steve Donahue fired at Boston College |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/steve-donahue-fired-at-boston-college/ |access-date=24 December 2021 |work=CBS Sports |date=March 18, 2014}} DeFilippo retired on September 30, 2012.
After leaving BC, DeFilippo became the managing director of Turnkey Search, and executive search and consulting firm for college programs.{{cite news |last1=Rittenberg |first1=Adam |title=Boston College AD Brad Bates leaving after school year |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/18725138/boston-college-eagles-ad-brad-bates-step-down |access-date=24 December 2021 |work=ESPN |date=August 30, 2019}}
Personal life
His father, Eugene Benard "Gene" DeFilippo, was a quarterback at Holy Cross.{{cite web|url=http://archive.boston.com/sports/colleges/football/articles/2009/11/13/overlooked_qb_leads_holy_cross_revival/|title=Pro-style QB leads Holy Cross revival|author=Shaughnessy, Dan|work=Boston Globe|date=November 13, 2009|access-date=February 17, 2018}}{{citation|url=https://crossworks.holycross.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1075&context=course_catalog|title=1950-1951 Catalog|publisher=College of the Holy Cross|page=98|year=1950}} His son, John DeFilippo, currently serves as the head coach of the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Villanova Wildcats athletic director navbox}}
{{Boston College Eagles athletic director navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:DeFilippo, Gene}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Boston College Eagles athletic directors
Category:Springfield Pride football players
Category:University of Kentucky people
Category:USC Upstate Spartans athletic directors
Category:Vanderbilt Commodores football coaches
Category:Villanova Wildcats athletic directors