Tag: Ryan Walters

Purdue Boilermakers head coach Ryan Walters looks down field Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, during the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Penn State Nittany Lions won 49-10.

Purdue fires head coach Ryan Walters after 2 seasons

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Purdue fired head football coach Ryan Walters on Sunday after two seasons.

The move came on the heels of the Boilermakers enduring their worst loss in the program’s history, a 66-0 shellacking by No. 10 Indiana on Saturday.

The setback was Purdue’s 11th in a row since it opened the season with a 49-0 victory over Indiana State on Aug. 31.

It was all downhill from there for the Boilermakers, who were 1-11 this season and 5-19 during Walters’ two years at the school.

“After an ongoing assessment, and in consultation with President Mung Chiang and the University’s Board of Trustees, I have made the decision that a change in the leadership of our football program is necessary,” Purdue executive vice president Mike Bobinski said.

“As college athletics enters an entirely new era in 2025, it’s a pivotal time for Purdue, and we must take the steps necessary to best position our football program for success. … This was a truly difficult decision, as head coach Ryan Walters continued to lead the Boilermakers with integrity, resilience and poise in the face of considerable challenges.”

Purdue was shut out three times in the past six games, outscored 146-0.

Walters was hired to replace Jeff Brohm prior to the 2023 season when Brohm departed for Louisville.

Per Bobinski, a national search has commenced to find a new head coach.

–Field Level Media

Oct 28, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Purdue Boilermakers head coach Ryan Walters looks on before a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Purdue coach on Michigan scandal: ‘They aren’t allegations’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Purdue coach Ryan Walters was crystal clear when addressing the allegations circling the Michigan football program.

For the record, the NCAA is investigating the third-ranked Wolverines for violating rules regarding off-campus scouting of upcoming foes, with staff member Connor Stalions the alleged ringleader of a sign-stealing operation.

Michigan suspended Stalions with pay earlier this month, and head coach Jim Harbaugh denied knowledge of any wrongdoing.

“It’s unfortunate,” Walters said Thursday night on his radio show, two days ahead of the Boilermakers’ game against the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Mich.

“What’s crazy is they weren’t allegations. It happened. There’s video evidence. There’s ticket purchases and sales that you can track back. We know for a fact that they were at a number of our games, so we’ve had to teach our guys a new language in terms of some signals and we will operate differently offensively … like you might see us in a huddle for the first time this season. So it is what it is, but we’re excited to go play, and I think it’ll make for a great story.”

Big Ten coaches expressed concerns with league commissioner Tony Petitti about Michigan’s alleged off-campus scouting on a conference call on Wednesday. Petitti is scheduled to meet with Michigan president Santa Ono on Friday morning.

–Field Level Media

New Purdue coach Ryan Walters helped turn around the Illinois defense and was named the top assistant in college football in 2022.

Purdue hires Illinois DC Ryan Walters as head coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Purdue hired Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters as its new head coach on Tuesday.

This is the first head coaching job for Walters, 36, who was named college football’s top assistant coach in 2022. He has been with the Illini for two seasons following a six-year tenure on the Missouri coaching staff, the last two as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator.

“From an early point in the search process, Coach Walters stood out because of the energy, passion and intelligence he displayed as a defensive coordinator in both the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference,” athletic director Mike Bobinski said in a news release. “His meteoric rise in the coaching profession is in large part due to his unique ability to connect with his student-athletes as both a coach and mentor. With that in mind, we look forward to the culture and atmosphere of success he and his staff will instill in and around our football program, and we see him as a perfect fit for our University and this community.

Walters received a five-year contract and replaces Jeff Brohm, who left last week to become the head coach after six seasons and a 70-36 record in West Lafayette, Ind.

Under Walters, Illinois held seven opponents to 10 or fewer points in 2022. The Illini rank No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (12.3) and No. 2 in yards allowed per game (263.8).

“I am incredibly humbled and honored to serve as the head football coach at Purdue University,” Walters said. “I am grateful to Director of Athletics Mike Bobinski and to President (Mitchell) Daniels for this incredible opportunity. Purdue is a world-class university, and our football program will pursue the same excellence exhibited across our campus. My wife Tara and I, along with our boys, are beyond excited to join the Purdue and West Lafayette communities. Boiler Up!”

Brohm’s brother, Brian Brohm, is serving as the Boilermakers’ interim coach for the Jan. 2 Citrus Bowl against LSU.

Purdue (8-5) finished atop the Big Ten West division and lost to Michigan in the Dec. 3 conference title game.

Walters played safety at Colorado from 2004-08. He began his coaching career as a student assistant with the Buffaloes in 2009 before spending time at Arizona (2010-11), Oklahoma (2012), North Texas (2013) and Memphis (2014).

–Field Level Media