Purdue parts ways with football coach Danny Hope
By CLIFF BRUNT
ISL Editor
Purdue has announced that it has parted ways with coach Danny Hope.
Hope, who just finished his fourth season as head coach of the Boilermakers, compiled a 22-27 record at Purdue, including a 13-19 mark in Big Ten Conference games and a 15-13 mark at Ross-Ade Stadium.
“There is no question that our football program has seen considerable growth under Danny’s leadership, particularly in the areas of academics, player development and recruiting,” athletic director Morgan Burke said in a statement. “I applaud him for his passion about Purdue University and the young men he coaches. He and his staff have devoted their lives to improving the program, but as I told him earlier this afternoon, those efforts did not equate to the consistent on-field success that both of us expected.”
Hope, who is under contract through the 2016 season, will receive a $600,000 buyout.
Wide receivers coach Patrick Higgins will serve as interim head coach for the bowl game.
Hopes were high after the Boilermakers went 7-6 last season. With Ohio State and Penn State ineligible for the Leaders Division title, Hope didn’t shy away from high expectations.
The Boilermakers won three of their first four games, losing to Notre Dame by a field goal. With excitement building, the Boilermakers lost their first five conference games, four by blowout. Burke issued a statement earlier in the season saying he wasn’t happy with the team’s performance. Purdue rallied and won its final three games with Robert Marve playing quarterback, though he led the team through the weaker part of the conference slate.
Purdue closed the regular season by beating Indiana 56-35, but Hope might have lost well before kickoff. The crowd was barely over 40,000 for a rivalry game with a bowl bid on the line, and empty seats were the norm during his tenure.
Here is the transcript of the 6:30 p.m. press conference:
Morgan Burke comments on coaching situation
