Uncovering the Ideal Qualities for Purdue's Football Future

Ledman's Perspective

In my view, what we need is a coach who is passionate and knowledgeable. Take a look at Matt Painter and Dave Shondell, Purdue's most successful coaches. They aren't flashy; they're just deeply immersed in their sport. You can see Painter's evolution in coaching style over time and Shondell's continuous improvement. It's not just about winning; it's about having a coach who learns from history and is committed to growth.

It's easy to focus on winning and specific offensive strategies, but that doesn't guarantee success. There are no foolproof hiring formulas; it's a complex process.

Ryan's Take

For me, it's quite simple. I'm looking for a former head coach with an offensive mindset and proven success over multiple seasons. Tyson Helton from Western Kentucky fits the bill. Purdue has had success in the past by pulling from the Hilltopper coaching pool, so why not try again? Helton was close to getting the Purdue job over Ryan Walters, showing the desire is there. Be sure to catch the Conference USA Championship game this Friday to see him in action.

Jed's Criteria

When considering a candidate for the Purdue job, several factors stand out. Firstly, a head coach should call an offense that is truly their own, not just their offensive coordinator's. This ensures stability if there's success and a bigger program comes calling. Secondly, a coach who builds successful assistant coaches is crucial. Matt Painter has shown this to be effective as good coaches want to work under him. Thirdly, a head coach with growth and success at previous jobs knows what it takes to succeed. The last staff lacked this, and it showed in their performance this season. Finally, strong public relations are essential in the era of NIL. A coach who can connect with the Boilermaker community will have more support. Western Kentucky's Tyson Helton meets many of these criteria. He's been at WKU for 6 seasons, made a bowl game each year, and is known as a quarterback developer.

Sometimes, the obvious choices are the hardest to make. Bobinski had the right instinct about Helton two seasons ago, but for some reason, he was swayed otherwise. We can't make that mistake again.