Purdue knew that day was likely to come.
Coach Jeff Brohm’s ties to Louisville — both city and university — were just too strong to keep him with the Boilermakers forever. Although Purdue did an admirable job of supporting Brohm, both financially and with other program resources, it ultimately couldn’t stop him from going home. Most coaches wouldn’t consider leaving one Big Ten or SEC school for another, but Brohm’s situation is different. Brohm could make more money if he stays in Purdue. But he comes from the first football family in Louisville – he, his father and a brother played quarterback there and another brother played wide receiver. Brohm later trained there. His parents, who live in Louisville, are getting older, and who knows if he’d get another chance to coach the Cardinals?
Scott Satterfield’s departure for Cincinnati Monday opened the door for Brohm, 51, and this time he sped through. He finished his Purdue career 36-34 overall but 17-9 the last two seasons with the school’s first Big Ten West Division title this year.
Purdue is a much better job than it was when Brohm arrived, thanks in part to him, but also thanks to the school’s increased (and overdue) investments. Facilities and resources have improved dramatically in recent years, and Purdue is poised to keep improving things under athletic director Mike Bobinski. However, there are still challenges as Purdue isn’t in a football-centric state and lacks the brand awareness of some of its Big Ten competitors. If the Big Ten breaks up divisions in 2024, as many have been expecting, Purdue’s schedule will become more difficult.
Still, the school is well positioned to find Brohm’s replacement. Purdue will likely lean on the offense given its history and how Brohm found success there. But the list below includes candidates with expertise on both sides of the ball.
Todd Monken, Georgia offensive coordinator: The only question with Monken is if he wants to be the head coach again. If so, he should certainly be considered for a job like Purdue, capitalizing on his track record on offense. He did an incredible job with quarterback Stetson Bennett, a Heisman Trophy finalist that year, and Georgia’s offense has continued to produce good results. Monken, 56, was a finalist for the Broyles Award (Nation’s Best Assistant Manager). He also has experience as a head coach at Southern Miss, where he played 9-5 in 2015 before moving to the NFL as a coordinator. Raised near Chicago, he began his career in Indiana as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame.
Toledo coach Jason Candle: He’s just won his second Mid-American Conference title and brings an offensive background and Midwest connections to Purdue. Candle, 43, is part of the Mount Union coaching community and has a 53-32 record in Toledo after succeeding current Iowa State coach Matt Campbell there. The Ohio native has spent his entire career in his home state, but is recruiting in several key areas and running an exciting quarterback-focused offense that would combine well with Purdue.
Jim Leonard: One of the nation’s top defensive coaches is on the market after announcing Tuesday night that he would not be staying in Wisconsin in 2023. Leonhard, 40, has been on the radar for Big Ten head coaching positions like Illinois. He went 4-3 as Wisconsin’s interim head coach after the school fired Paul Chryst on Oct. 2. Leonhard’s offensive staff and plan would be key here, but he could continue to improve Purdue’s defense and likely give the program a recruiting boost. He understands player development and embodies it as a former walk-on who became a three-time All-American in Wisconsin and then played a decade in the NFL.
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Western Kentucky Coach Tyson Helton: Purdue’s latest search ended with a successful WKU coach in Brohm, so why not go back? Like Brohm, Helton runs a very exciting offense and has finished fourth nationally in the rating (40.2 ppg) for the last two seasons. Quarterbacks Bailey Zappe and Austin Reed both excelled in his system. Helton, 45, has won eight or more games in three of his four seasons and has made a bowl game every year. He has never worked in the Big Ten but spent a season in Cincinnati and could help Purdue’s recruiting/transfer efforts down south.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi: He may not fit the typical Purdue coaching profile, but if the school can add an established Power 5 coach with an ACC championship and Big Ten roots, they should do their research. Narduzzi, 56, has achieved a lot in eight seasons with Pitt but could be tempted by the increased resources of a Big Ten school and a chance to reset his clock. He spent eight seasons as Michigan State’s defensive coordinator and made other assistant stints near Purdue, including Miami, Ohio, Northern Illinois and Cincinnati. Narduzzi’s background is rooted in defense, but his Pitt teams produced notable offenses in 2016 and 2021.
Dan Mullen: The best Purdue teams have excelled in offensive standouts and overall player development. Mullen, who now works as an ESPN analyst, had both during a successful run at Mississippi State, where he went 69-46 despite often facing one of the toughest schedules in the country. He produced notable players like quarterback Dak Prescott and could likely replicate his approach on a program like Purdue. The question for Mullen, 50, is whether he wants to train at college ball again. He worked in the state/region at Notre Dame and Bowling Green before following Urban Meyer to Utah.
Kane Wommack, South Alabama coach: He led the Jaguars to a 10-2 record in his sophomore season and appears to be on course for a Power 5 opportunity. Wommack, 35, spent three years in Indiana, the last two as defensive coordinator, before taking the job in South Alabama. He also worked near Purdue in Eastern Illinois in 2014 and 2015. The son of longtime college coach Dave Wommack grew up in the business and appears to be a rising star.
Anthony Poindexter, Penn State Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safety Coach: Prior to Penn State, Poindexter spent four years at Purdue under Brohm and is familiar with the inner workings of the program. He also nearly landed the head coaching job at Virginia, his alma mater, last year before retiring his name from consideration. Poindexter, 46, is a college football Hall of Famer who received two All-America honors in Virginia. Prior to Purdue, he was a coordinator at UConn and has extensive connections in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region.
Michigan Co-Offensive Coordinator Sherrone Moore: Over the past two seasons, Moore should be on the radar for almost any Big Ten head coaching position. Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh has endorsed Moore as a future head coach, and his work with Michigan’s offensive line and offense as a whole stands out. Moore, 36, played in Oklahoma but spent his coaching career near Purdue, making stints in Louisville and Central Michigan before joining the Michigan staff in 2018.
Colorado offensive coordinator Sean Lewis: He’s just accepted the CU gig under new coach Deion Sanders but would certainly be tempted by the Purdue job after overseeing Kent State’s program for the past five seasons. Lewis, 36, runs an exciting offensive line and has roots near Purdue, having grown up near Chicago and playing in Wisconsin. Aside from two years as Syracuse’s co-offensive coordinator, Lewis has spent his entire coaching career in the Big Ten. He would retain many of the ingredients under Brohm but likely bolster Purdue’s recruiting in the Chicago area and elsewhere.
Ryan Walters, Illinois Defense Coordinator: He oversaw the nation’s top defense for most of the season and was a Broyles Award finalist alongside Monken. Walters, 36, was in the mix for the head coaching position at Colorado, his alma mater, and would soon take the plunge to oversee his own program. Although Illinois is his first stop with the Big Ten, he has worked on programs in areas where Purdue could recruit, such as Missouri, Memphis and North Texas.
Mike Yurcich, Penn State offensive coordinator: His credentials as an assistant coach are impressive, first appearing under Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State before stopping at Ohio State, Texas and now Penn State, who won 10-2 this season. Yurcich, 47, grew up near Cleveland and began his coaching career in Indiana with NAIA Saint Francis. He has overseen prolific offenses at several stations and may be ready to direct his own program.
Purdue Co-Defensive Coordinator Mark Hagen: An internal move doesn’t seem all that likely, but Hagen has long-term ties to both Purdue and the state and could maintain continuity from the Brohm era. A native of Indiana, he has spent more than 20 years coaching the Big Ten and is in his second stint at Purdue after working there under Joe Tiller and other coaches. Hagen has served as the co-defensive coordinator for the past two seasons and has helped improve the unit. He also gained some important experience outside of the Big Ten at Texas A&M and was able to help grow Purdue’s local and regional recruiting.