The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Joe Tiller

Followed Jim Colletto. Joe Tiller raised Purdue from Regional Program II to Power Program III.

The ascent
126–92
1991–2008 · 2 stints
WyomingPurdue
← all coaches

Career arc

His real stature score, season by season, across every program he’s coached — so a stretch that stays in one tier the whole way can still climb or sink on the line, not just flatten out. Node color marks the tier reached. Which program a stretch belongs to is carried by the shaded lane behind it.

Stature score reached, by season of his head-coaching careerWYOMINGPURDUEPower Programperennial contenderNational Programrespectable, streakyRegional Programthe building-block levelWyoming, 1991: 4-6, Regional Program I1991Wyoming, 1992: 5-7, Regional Program IWyoming, 1993: 8-4, Regional Program IWyoming, 1994: 6-6, Regional Program IWyoming, 1995: 6-5, Regional Program IWyoming, 1996: 10-2, National Program III1996-1.8Purdue, 1997: 9-3, National Program III1997Purdue, 1998: 9-4, National Program IIPurdue, 1999: 7-5, National Program IIPurdue, 2000: 8-4, National Program IPurdue, 2001: 6-6, National Program IPurdue, 2002: 7-6, National Program IPurdue, 2003: 9-4, Power Program IIIPurdue, 2004: 7-5, Power Program IIIPurdue, 2005: 5-6, Power Program IIIPurdue, 2006: 8-6, Power Program IIIPurdue, 2007: 8-5, Power Program IIIPurdue, 2008: 4-8, National Program I2008+21.2One point per coached season, in career order; dashed segments are program changes — spacing is not proportional to calendar time

Reached Power Program in his 13th career season — faster than 3% of the 395 FBS coaches who have ever reached Power Program (rank #380 of 395 by seasons-to-arrival).

Wyoming, 6 seasons
−1.8
Regional Program I → National Program III.
Purdue, 12 seasons
+21.2
National Program III → National Program I.

The big-game ledger

How he does in the games that matter most — rivalry record, performance broken out by real opponent tier, one-score games, and his toughest historical matchup.

13–5 against his rivals. Just 1–4 against Ron McBride.

Rivalry record
13–5
72.2% · 2 rivals
One-score games
41–41–1
49.4% · margin ≤8
vs. Blue Blood or better
4–13
23.5%
Rivalry ledger
Indiana10–283%
Colorado State3–350%
The toughest matchupNemesis
vs. Ron McBride1–4
5 meetings, 1991–1995
’91 L’92 L’93 W’94 L’95 L
Performance by opponent class
Blue Blood
4–13 23.5%
Power Program
18–37 32.7%
National Program
29–21 58.0%
Regional Program
68–21 76.4%

Coaching career

1997–2008
Purduebuilderborderline
Regional Program II → Power Program III
Joe Tiller raised Purdue from Regional Program II to Power Program III.

4th-best Purdue tenure of 21 by the numbers.

Followed Jim Colletto (1991–1996) · succeeded by Danny Hope (2009–2012).

37 NFL Draft picks: Brian Alford (1998), Mark Fischer (1998), Edwin Watson (1998), Chike Okeafor (1999), Rosevelt Colvin (1999), Michael Hawthorne (2000), David Nugent (2000), Drew Brees (2001) + 29 more

87–62
1991–1996
Wyomingcaretaker
National Program III → National Program III
Joe Tiller held Wyoming at National Program III for 6 seasons.

6th-best Wyoming tenure of 22 by the numbers.

Followed Paul Roach (1987–1990) · succeeded by Dana Dimel (1997–1999).

7 NFL Draft picks: Mitch Donahue (1991), Ryan Yarborough (1994), Ryan Christopherson (1995), John Burrough (1995), Steve Scifres (1997), Lee Vaughn (1997), Marcus Harris (1997)

39–30