Purdue fires defensive coordinator Kevin Kane after nine games
The gist
Purdue fired defensive coordinator Kevin Kane after a 3-6 start and three straight losses.
The Boilermakers still owe him $1 million for 2027, so the hire's cost outlasts his tenure.
How it unfolded
- Dec 19, 2025Purdue brought back Kevin Kane as defensive coordinator, replacing Mike Scherer.
- Jan 24, 2026Barry Odom, in his first comments on the hire five weeks later, said Kane would be able to put his identity and stamp on the defense.
- Nov 2, 2026Kane defended the defense, saying "our scheme is sound" and "I know it's sound," while Purdue ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten in several defensive categories.
Key terms
- defensive coordinator
- A coach responsible for a gridiron football team's defense, ranking below the head coach in the coaching structure.
- nickelbacks
- A cornerback or safety who is the extra fifth defensive back in a nickel defense.
- outside linebackers
- A defensive football position lined up behind the defensive line, closer to the line of scrimmage than defensive backs.
Source: Wikipedia