Purdue: a football coaching history

Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.

2025–now

Barry Odom Short tenure

2025 defense ranked in the 3th percentile nationally — historically bad

5-15

2023–2024

Ryan Walters Short tenure

2024 defense ranked in the 1th percentile nationally — historically bad

5-19

2022

Brian Brohm Short tenure

No outlier style signal this stint

0-1

2017–2022

Jeff Brohm Steady

Jeff Brohm moved the Boilermakers from Regional Program III to Regional Program I in 6 seasons.

Averaged a 58% pass rate — among the most pass-heavy stretches in FBS since 2004

+6.6 pts over 6 seasons · top 28% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Darrell Dickey’s North Texas run (1998–2006)

13th-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Gerad Parker (2016) · succeeded by Ryan Walters (2023–2024).

System Shift, on departure

Season	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Record & result
Record	7-6	6-7	4-8	2-4	9-4	8-5
Postseason	W bowl	L bowl	—	—	W bowl	—
Recruiting rank	#72	#52	#25	#33	#72	#38
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	52.3	56.1	60.3	63.5	59.5	55.4
Coordinators
OC	Tony Levine / Brian Brohm	JaMarcus Shephard / Brian Brohm	JaMarcus Shephard / Brian Brohm	JaMarcus Shephard / Brian Brohm	JaMarcus Shephard / Brian Brohm	Brian Brohm
DC	Nick Holt / Anthony Poindexter	Nick Holt / Anthony Poindexter	Nick Holt / Anthony Poindexter	Bob Diaco / Anthony Poindexter	Brad Lambert / Ron English / Mark Hagen	Ron English / Mark Hagen
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	34	52	30	51	72	30
Defense	70	13	37	48	49	19
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	55.1	58.3	58.0	58.1	56.5	50.5
Red-zone pass%	50.5	49.6	61.6	65.8	59.4	49.6
4th-down go%opp. territory	27.1	22.0	30.8	42.1	19.6	26.1

Recruiter or developer?

Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on offense and underperforms his recruiting talent on defense.

Offense vs. talent

-7.4 pts

#141 of 208 · middle half

Defense vs. talent

-12.7 pts

#160 of 208 · bottom quarter

Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.

Roster construction · portal era

A typical amount of portal roster-building.

Portal arrivals

2.9★ avg rating

Portal departures

left via the portal

Net portal flow

-6

#135 of 187 FBS stints

Who they bring in

Brings in bigger-than-position-typical players than most.

Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.

Avg. size (raw)

6′2″, 239 lbs

across 10 of 18 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix

Size vs. position-typical

+16.0 lbs

#1 of 255 · top quarter

Avg. class year

#1 of 255 · top quarter

Top states: IN (3), GA (3), IL (1), NJ (1), TX (1)

Who won the portal our read

Talent added

49.6

position-weighted

Talent lost

52.5

position-weighted

Net

-3.0

arrivals minus departures

Best addition: Michael Alaimo (QB) from Purdue

Biggest loss: Michael Alaimo (QB) to Purdue

Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.

Does the system survive a coordinator change?

OC: Tony Levine (co) / Brian Brohm (co) → JaMarcus Shephard (co) / Brian Brohm (co) · 2018

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 55.1% → 58.3% (+3.2 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 77% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

DC: Nick Holt (co) / Anthony Poindexter (co) → Bob Diaco (co) / Anthony Poindexter (co) · 2020

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

DC: Bob Diaco (co) / Anthony Poindexter (co) → Brad Lambert (co) / Ron English (co) / Mark Hagen (co) · 2021

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

Roster size, by position

Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)

Quarterback

211 lbs

6′4″ avg · #415 of 767 · middle half

Running back

217 lbs

6′1″ avg · #87 of 791 · top quarter

Wide receiver

194 lbs

6′0″ avg · #361 of 791 · middle half

Tight end

256 lbs

6′5″ avg · #53 of 731 · top quarter

Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters

Interior line

304 lbs

6′5″ avg · #596 of 779 · bottom quarter

D-line

290 lbs

6′3″ avg · #248 of 753 · middle half

Linebacker

239 lbs

6′2″ avg · #38 of 772 · top quarter

Cornerback

197 lbs

6′0″ avg · #82 of 771 · top quarter

Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.

Where the roster comes from, by position

Buys Quarterback via the portal

67%

#16 of 206 stints

Grows Tight end from high school

100%

#164 of 188 stints

Grows Interior line from high school

80%

#176 of 224 stints

Postseason detail2017: Beat Arizona 38-35 Foster Farms Bowl2018: Lost to Auburn 14-63 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl2021: Beat Tennessee 48-45 TransPerfect Music City Bowl

13 NFL Draft picks: Ja'Whaun Bentley (2018), Brycen Hopkins (2020), Markus Bailey (2020), Rondale Moore (2021), Derrick Barnes (2021), George Karlaftis (2022), David Bell (2022), Zander Horvath (2022) + 5 more

2 player-seasons honored (All-America / national award): George Karlaftis (2021), David Bell (2021)

+6.6

36-34

2016

Gerad Parker Short tenure

Averaged a 61% pass rate — among the most pass-heavy stretches in FBS since 2004

0-6

2013–2016

Darrell Hazell Steady

Darrell Hazell slid the Boilermakers from National Program III to Regional Program I in 4 seasons.

No outlier style signal this stint

−13.0 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 5% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Curley Hallman’s LSU run (1991–1994)

12th-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Danny Hope (2009–2012) · succeeded by Gerad Parker (2016).

System Shift, on arrival

Season	2013	2014	2015	2016
Record & result
Record	1-11	3-9	2-10	3-3
Postseason	—	—	—	—
Recruiting rank	#61	#70	#67	#80
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	57.2	51.9	54.7	60.7
Coordinators
OC	—	John Shoop	John Shoop	Terry Malone
DC	—	Greg Hudson	Greg Hudson	Ross Els / Marcus Freeman
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	27	21	19	14
Defense	8	53	21	9
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	41.0	41.2	45.3	56.6
Red-zone pass%	34.5	44.4	33.3	41.1
4th-down go%opp. territory	33.3	33.3	51.3	39.0

Recruiter or developer?

Underperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.

Offense vs. talent

-33.3 pts

#203 of 208 · bottom quarter

Defense vs. talent

-35.3 pts

#202 of 208 · bottom quarter

Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Tight end from high school

100%

#164 of 188 stints

Grows Edge from high school

100%

#191 of 208 stints

5 NFL Draft picks: Ricardo Allen (2014), Kevin Pamphile (2014), Ryan Russell (2015), Anthony Brown (2016), Deangelo Yancey (2017)

−13.0

9-33

2012

Patrick Higgins Short tenure

No outlier style signal this stint

0-1

2009–2012

Danny Hope Steady

Danny Hope slid the Boilermakers from National Program I to National Program III in 4 seasons.

2010 offense ranked in the 1th percentile nationally — historically bad

−10.8 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 10% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Gary Crowton’s BYU run (2001–2004)

9th-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Joe Tiller (1997–2008) · succeeded by Darrell Hazell (2013–2016).

System Shift, on departure

System Shift, on arrival

Season	2009	2010	2011	2012
Record & result
Record	5-7	4-8	7-6	6-6
Postseason	—	—	W bowl	—
Recruiting rank	#71	#53	#75	#49
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	53.6	44.5	42.2	50.4
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	38	1	46	24
Defense	52	39	40	28
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	49.0	38.8	36.0	45.9
Red-zone pass%	50.5	38.7	41.3	46.0
4th-down go%opp. territory	38.1	30.6	12.9	35.0

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Kicker from high school

100%

#52 of 56 stints

Grows Edge from high school

100%

#191 of 208 stints

Postseason detail2011: Beat Western Michigan 37-32 Little Caesars Bowl

5 NFL Draft picks: Michael Neal (2010), Ryan Kerrigan (2011), Dennis Kelly (2012), Nick Mondek (2012), Kawann Short (2013)

−10.8

22-27

1997–2008

Joe Tiller Builder

Joe Tiller raised the Boilermakers from Regional Program II to Power Program III.

2006 defense ranked in the 0th percentile nationally — historically bad

+21.2 pts over 12 seasons · top 23% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Mike Gundy’s Oklahoma State run (2005–2025)

4th-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

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

System Shift, on departure

Season	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Record & result
Record	9-3	9-4	7-5	8-4	6-6	7-6	9-4	7-5	5-6	8-6	8-5	4-8
Postseason	W bowl	W bowl	L bowl	L bowl	L bowl	W bowl	L bowl	L bowl	—	L bowl	W bowl	—
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	#17	#27	#53	#61	#48
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	53.4	50.7	57.5	59.0	56.2
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	87	65	73	79	35
Defense	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	61	33	0	62	80
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	50.3	44.2	50.3	50.7	54.0
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	45.7	32.6	49.4	49.1	47.9
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	22.7	26.3	25.6	22.9	35.4

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Tight end from high school

100%

#164 of 188 stints

Grows Edge from high school

100%

#191 of 208 stints

Postseason detail1997: Beat Oklahoma State 33-20 Bowl1998: Beat Kansas State 37-34 Bowl1999: Lost to Georgia 25-28 Bowl2000: Lost to Washington 24-34 Bowl2001: Lost to Washington State 27-33 Bowl2002: Beat Washington 34-24 Bowl2003: Lost to Georgia 27-34 Capital One Bowl2004: Lost to Arizona State 23-27 Bowl2006: Lost to Maryland 7-24 Bowl2007: Beat Central Michigan 51-48 Bowl

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

+21.2

87-62

1991–1996

Jim Colletto Steady

Jim Colletto moved the Boilermakers from Regional Program III to Regional Program II in 6 seasons.

+3.7 pts over 6 seasons · top 42% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Tony Samuel’s New Mexico State run (1997–2004)

14th-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Fred Akers (1987–1990) · succeeded by Joe Tiller (1997–2008).

3 NFL Draft picks: Frank Kmet (1992), Jeff Zgonina (1993), Ryan Grigson (1995)

+3.7

20-43-3

1987–1990

Fred Akers Steady

Fred Akers slid the Boilermakers from National Program III to Regional Program I in 4 seasons.

−9.4 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 15% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Mike Jinks’s Bowling Green run (2016–2018)

11th-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Leon Burtnett (1982–1986) · succeeded by Jim Colletto (1991–1996).

4 NFL Draft picks: Jerrol Williams (1989), Calvin Williams (1990), Steve Jackson (1991), Scott Conover (1991)

−9.4

12-31-1

1982–1986

Leon Burtnett Steady

Leon Burtnett slid Purdue from National Program I to National Program II in 5 seasons.

−9.3 pts over 5 seasons · bottom 15% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Tommy Tuberville’s Cincinnati run (2013–2016)

10th-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Jim Young (1977–1981) · succeeded by Fred Akers (1987–1990).

Season	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986
Record & result
Record	3-8	3-7-1	7-5	5-6	3-8
Postseason	—	—	L bowl	—	—
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	—	—
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	—	—
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	—
Defense	—	—	—	—	—
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	—
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	—
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	—

Postseason detail1984: Lost to Virginia 24-27 Bowl

10 NFL Draft picks: Chris Scott (1984), Cliff Benson (1984), Scott Campbell (1984), Don Anderson (1985), Bruce King (1985), Jim Everett (1986), Ray Wallace (1986), Mark Jackson (1986) + 2 more

−9.3

21-34-1

1977–1981

Jim Young Steady

Jim Young moved the Boilermakers from National Program II to National Program I in 5 seasons.

+2.4 pts over 5 seasons · top 23% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Jeff Brohm’s Louisville run (2023–now)

6th-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Alex Agase (1973–1976) · succeeded by Leon Burtnett (1982–1986).

Season	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981
Record & result
Record	5-6	9-2-1	10-2	9-3	5-6
Postseason	—	W bowl	W bowl	W bowl	—
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	—	—
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	—	—
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	—
Defense	—	—	—	—	—
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	—
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	—
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	—

Postseason detail1978: Beat Georgia Tech 41-21 Bowl1979: Beat Tennessee 27-22 Bowl1980: Beat Missouri 28-25 Bowl

7 NFL Draft picks: John Skibinski (1978), Keena Turner (1980), Dave Young (1981), Mark Herrmann (1981), Calvin Clark (1981), Bill Kay (1981), Steve Bryant (1982)

+2.4

38-19-1

1973–1976

Alex Agase Steady

Alex Agase slid the Boilermakers from Power Program III to National Program II in 4 seasons.

−10.6 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 11% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama run (2024–now)

3rd-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Bob DeMoss (1970–1972) · succeeded by Jim Young (1977–1981).

10 NFL Draft picks: Carl Capria (1974), Bob Herrick (1974), Larry Burton (1975), Fred Cooper (1975), Mike Pruitt (1976), Ken Novak (1976), Ken Long (1976), Scott Dierking (1977) + 2 more

−10.6

18-25-1

1970–1972

Bob DeMoss Steady

Bob DeMoss slid Purdue from Power Program II to Power Program III in 3 seasons.

−6.2 pts over 3 seasons · bottom 29% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Jeff Woodruff’s Eastern Michigan run (2000–2003)

2nd-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Jack Mollenkopf (1956–1969) · succeeded by Alex Agase (1973–1976).

12 NFL Draft picks: Don Green (1971), Stanley Brown (1971), Tom Luken (1972), Charles Potts (1972), Dave Butz (1973), Otis Armstrong (1973), Darryl Stingley (1973), Gary Hrivnak (1973) + 4 more

−6.2

13-18

1956–1969

Jack Mollenkopf Builder≈

Jack Mollenkopf raised Purdue from National Program I to Power Program II.

+13.8 pts over 14 seasons · top 43% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Chuck Martin’s Miami (OH) run (2014–now)

1st-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Stuart Holcomb (1947–1955) · succeeded by Bob DeMoss (1970–1972).

+13.8

84-39-9

1947–1955

Stuart Holcomb Steady

Stuart Holcomb moved the Boilermakers from National Program II to National Program I in 9 seasons.

+3.0 pts over 9 seasons · top 47% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Ron Zook’s Illinois run (2005–2011)

7th-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Cecil Isbell (1944–1946) · succeeded by Jack Mollenkopf (1956–1969).

+3.0

35-42-4

1944–1946

Cecil Isbell Steady

Cecil Isbell slid Purdue from National Program II to National Program I in 3 seasons.

−0.6 pts over 3 seasons · top 36% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Mark Dantonio’s Cincinnati run (2004–2006)

8th-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Elmer Burnham (1942–1943) · succeeded by Stuart Holcomb (1947–1955).

−0.6

14-14-1

1942–1943

Elmer Burnham Short tenure

10-8

1937–1941

Mal Elward Steady

Mal Elward slid the Boilermakers from Power Program III to National Program II in 5 seasons.

−4.8 pts over 5 seasons · bottom 38% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Dave Baldwin’s San José State run (1997–2000)

5th-best Purdue tenure of 14 by the numbers.

Followed Noble Kizer (1936) · succeeded by Elmer Burnham (1942–1943).

−4.8

16-18-6

1936

Noble Kizer Short tenure

5-2-1