After leading one of the nation’s top defenses at Illinois in 2022, then-36-year-old Ryan Walters was viewed as one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the nation. Purdue tasked him with replacing a big name in Jeff Brohm at the time, but two years later, the Boilermakers are going in a different direction. Purdue fired Walters on Sunday following a 1-11 season and a winless campaign in the Big Ten.
The influx of talent into the conference, plus the success of in-state rival Indiana, put the pressure on the Purdue football coaching search as the Boilermakers hope to make a home-run hire to return to relevance. If you love the Boilermakers, or just want to know who will call the shots for Purdue football in the future, be sure to see what the proven team of insiders are saying at The Boiler Sports Report, the 247Sports affiliate that covers Purdue.
The Boiler Sports Report experts are providing on-the-ground updates on every development surrounding Walter’s departure and the future of the Purdue football program, including insights from Sean Williams, who has deep-rooted ties around the Purdue community. Get all the inside scoop on the football program, plus VIP intel on Purdue football, basketball, recruiting and more. Plus get access to the Fort Mollenkopf premium message boards where you can connect with other Purdue fans and insiders.
And right now, The Boiler Sports Report is offering 75% off annual subscriptions*, so now is the time to sign up. The team at The Boiler Sports Report already has a list out of several potential candidates on and there are some surprising names on the list. Head to InsideCarolina now to see them all.
Top Purdue football coach candidates
One name the Williams has identified as a potential target on the premium message board is Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell. Chadwell was reportedly passed over for SEC opportunities in recent years, but landing at a Big Ten program might be a better fit if he’s looking to break into the Power Four ranks.
Chadwell won big late in his tenure at Coastal Carolina, going 31-6 from 2020-22. Instead of jumping to a power program at that point, he instead replaced Hugh Freeze at Liberty, and he’s gone 21-4 through two seasons with the Flames, including an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl last season.
He’s a proven winner with an innovative offense and a knack for getting production from quarterbacks. The downsides are that his 2024 Liberty team has fallen a bit short of expectations at 8-3 overall and he reportedly is paid more than $4 million per year currently, so it might take a substantial offer to get him to leave after just two years in Lynchburg. See more candidates at The Boiler Sports Report.
How to get insider Purdue coaching staff search updates
The rest of the list includes several other intriguing names, including a national-championship winning coach who “probably translates well to the Big Ten.” You can only see who it is at The Boiler Sports Report.
Who are the top candidates in the Purdue football coaching search, and which national-championship winning coach could be a fit? Go to The Boiler Sports Report to see their Purdue coaching hot board and more, and find out.
And reminder, The Boiler Sports Report is offering 75% off an annual VIP membership as a coaching search special, so subscribe now before it’s too late.
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