Illinois DC Ryan Walters hired as Purdue's next football coach
Purdue has its football coach: Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters.
Walter’s hiring ends a search that took less than a week to complete for Purdue A.D. Mike Bobinski in his quest for a replacement for Jeff Brohm, who officially took the Louisville job last Wednesday.
Among the first duties for Walters will be to secure the 2023 recruiting class, which has seen five players de-commit. Signing Day in Dec. 21. Walters also must keep the Purdue roster together while also recruiting players from the portal to bolster the depth chart. And a staff must be assembled.
Walters is considered to be a rising star in the coaching profession. The 36-year old Los Angeles native has spent the last two seasons at Illinois working for Bret Bielema. Walter’s 2022 defense was among the best in the Big Ten. Walters was paid $1.05 million at Illinois.
The Illini are No. 1 in the Big Ten in total defense (263.9 ypg), No. 1 in scoring defense (12.3 ppg), No. 2 in rushing defense (98.4 ypg) and No. 1 in passing defense (165.4 ypg). The Illini’s 29 takeaways lead the Big Ten.
A big key for Walters will be how he builds his offensive staff. What will be the scheme? Who will call it?
Illinois (8-4 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) is slated to play Mississippi State in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa on Jan. 2. This is the program’s first bowl since a RedBox Bowl appearance in 2019.
Prior to matriculating to Illinois, Walters worked for Barry Odom and Eli Drinkwitz at Missouri from 2015-22. Walters was co-DC from 2016-17 and DC from 2018-20.
Top 10
- 1New
Desean Jackson
Finalizing deal to be college HC
- 2
Jim Larranaga
Miami HC set to step down
- 3Hot
CFP selection process
Urban Meyer predicts changes
- 4
National Championship odds
Updated odds are in
- 5
LaNorris Sellers
South Carolina QB signs NIL deal to return
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Walters played safety at Colorado from 2004-08. He began his coaching career in Boulder in 2009 and went on to work at Arizona, Oklahoma and North Texas before going with Odom from Memphis to Missouri.
Purdue will cap the season with a Cheez-It Citrus Bowl matchup vs. LSU in Orlando on Jan. 2. Seven members of the previous coaching staff have remain in West Lafayette to coach for the bowl. Co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brian Brohm is the interim head coach, while co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Mark Hagen will call the defense vs. LSU. Bowl practices begin on Wednesday.
Walters takes over for Brohm, who led the Boilermakers to four bowls in six seasons and left West Lafayette with a 36-34 overall record and a 26-25 Big Ten mark. Brohm led Purdue to its first Big Ten West title in 2022, as the Boilermakers lost to Michigan in the league title game.
The 2023 Purdue schedule shapes up to be a challenge. The non-conference slate includes visits from Fresno State and Syracuse, as well as a trip to Virginia Tech. The slate also includes visits from Ohio State and Wisconsin as well as games at Michigan and at Iowa.
Purdue is one of three Big Ten schools who have hired coaches this offseason. Nebraska has tabbed Matt Rhule, while Wisconsin has hired Luke Fickell.
