Purdue knew this day likely would come.
Coach Jeff Brohm's connections to Louisville -- both with the city and the university -- simply were too strong to keep him with the Boilermakers forever. Although Purdue did an admirable job of supporting Brohm, both financially and with other program resources, it couldn't ultimately stop him from going home. Most coaches wouldn't think of leaving a Big Ten or SEC school for any other, but Brohm's situation is distinct. He could've earned more money by staying at Purdue. But he's from the first family of football in Louisville -- he, his father and a brother played quarterback there and another brother played wide receiver. Brohm later coached there. His parents, who live in Louisville, are getting older, and who knows if he'd get another chance to coach the Cardinals?
Scott Satterfield's departure Monday to Cincinnati opened the door for Brohm, 51, and this time he raced through it. He finished his Purdue career at 36-34 overall but 17-9 the past two seasons with the school's first Big Ten West Division title this year.
Purdue is a much better job than when Brohm arrived thanks in part to him, but also to the school's increased (and overdue) investments. The facilities and resources have improved dramatically in recent years, and Purdue maintains a willingness to keep upgrading things under athletic director Mike Bobinski. There are still challenges, though, as Purdue isn't located in a football-centric state and lacks the brand recognition of some of its Big Ten competitors. If the Big Ten dissolves divisions in 2024, as many expect, Purdue's schedule will become harder.
Still, the school is positioned well to find Brohm's replacement. Purdue likely will lean toward offense, given its history and how Brohm found success there. But the following list includes candidates with expertise on both sides of the ball.
Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken: The only question with Monken is whether he wants to be a head coach again. If so, he should certainly gain consideration for a job like Purdue, which will be drawn to Monken's track record of offensive success. He has done an incredible job with quarterback Stetson Bennett, a Heisman Trophy finalist this year, and Georgia's offense has continued to produce. Monken, 56, was a finalist for the Broyles Award (nation's top assistant coach). He also has head-coaching experience at Southern Miss, going 9-5 in 2015 before moving to the NFL as a coordinator. He grew up near Chicago and started his career in the state of Indiana as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame.
Toledo coach Jason Candle: He's coming off of his second Mid-American Conference title, and he would bring an offensive background and Midwest ties to Purdue. Candle, 43, is part of the Mount Union coaching fraternity, and has a 53-32 mark at Toledo after following current Iowa State coach Matt Campbell there. The Ohio-born Candle has spent his entire career in his home state but has recruited in different key areas and runs an exciting, quarterback-centric offense that would connect well at Purdue.
Jim Leonhard: One of the nation's top defensive coaches is on the market after announcing Tuesday night that he wouldn't remain at Wisconsin in 2023. Leonhard, 40, has been on the radar for Big Ten head-coaching positions like Illinois. He went 4-3 as Wisconsin's interim head coach after the school fired Paul Chryst on Oct. 2. Leonhard's offensive staff and plan would be key here, but he could continue to upgrade Purdue's defense and likely give the program a jolt in recruiting. He understands player development and embodies it as a former walk-on who became a three-time All-American at Wisconsin and then played a decade in the NFL.
Western Kentucky coach Tyson Helton: Purdue's most recent search ended with a successful WKU coach in Brohm, so why not go back? Like Brohm, Helton runs an extremely exciting offense, ranking fourth nationally in scoring (40.2 points per game) over the past two seasons. Quarterbacks Bailey Zappe and Austin Reed both have shined in his system. The 45-year-old Helton has won eight or more games in three of his four seasons, and he has made a bowl game each year. He hasn't worked in the Big Ten before but spent a season at Cincinnati and could help Purdue's recruiting/transfer efforts in the South.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi: He might not fit the typical Purdue coach profile, but if the school can add an established Power 5 coach who has an ACC championship and Big Ten roots, it should inquire. Narduzzi, 56, has accomplished a lot in eight seasons at Pitt, but he could be tempted by the increased resources of a Big Ten school, and the chance to restart his clock. He spent eight seasons as Michigan State's defensive coordinator and has made other assistant stops near Purdue, including Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois and Cincinnati. Narduzzi's background is rooted in defense, but his Pitt teams produced notable offenses in 2016 and 2021.
Dan Mullen: The best Purdue teams have excelled with offensive standouts and overall player development. Mullen, now working as an ESPN analyst, had both during a successful run at Mississippi State, where he went 69-46 despite often facing one of the toughest schedules in the country. He churned out notable players such as quarterback Dak Prescott and likely could replicate his approach at a program like Purdue. The question with Mullen, 50, is whether he wants to coach in college ball again. He worked in the state/region at Notre Dame and Bowling Green before following Urban Meyer to Utah.
South Alabama coach Kane Wommack: He led the Jaguars to a 10-2 record in his second season, and he seems on his way to a Power 5 opportunity. Wommack, 35, spent three years at Indiana, the final two as defensive coordinator, before taking the South Alabama job. He also worked close to Purdue at Eastern Illinois in 2014 and 2015. The son of longtime college coach Dave Wommack grew up in the business and appears to be a rising star.
Penn State co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Anthony Poindexter: Before Penn State, Poindexter spent four years at Purdue under Brohm and has familiarity with the program's inner workings. He also nearly landed the head-coaching job last year at Virginia, his alma mater, before withdrawing his name from consideration. Poindexter, 46, is a College Football Hall of Famer who twice earned All-America honors at Virginia. He had coordinator experience at UConn before Purdue and has extensive ties in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region.
Michigan co-offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore: After the past two seasons, Moore should be on the radar for almost any Big Ten head-coaching vacancy. Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh has endorsed Moore as a future head coach, and his work with Michigan's offensive line and overall offense jumps out. Moore, 36, played at Oklahoma but has spent his coaching career near Purdue, making stops at Louisville and Central Michigan before joining the Michigan staff in 2018.
Colorado offensive coordinator Sean Lewis: He just took the CU gig under new coach Deion Sanders, but he certainly would be tempted by the Purdue job after leading Kent State's program for the past five seasons. Lewis, 36, runs an exciting offense and has roots near Purdue, after growing up near Chicago and playing at Wisconsin. Other than two years as Syracuse's co-offensive coordinator, Lewis has spent his entire coaching career in the Big Ten footprint. He would maintain many of the ingredients under Brohm but likely strengthen Purdue's recruiting in the Chicago area and elsewhere.
Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters: He oversaw the nation's top defense for most of the season, and he was a Broyles Award finalist alongside Monken. Walters, 36, was in the mix for the head-coaching vacancy at Colorado, his alma mater, and soon should make the jump to run his own program. Although Illinois is his first Big Ten stop, he has worked at programs in areas Purdue could recruit, such as Missouri, Memphis and North Texas.
Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich: His assistant-coaching credentials are impressive, as he first surfaced under Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State before making stops at Ohio State, Texas and now Penn State, which went 10-2 this season. Yurcich, 47, grew up near Cleveland and started his coaching career in Indiana at NAIA Saint Francis. He has overseen productive offenses at several stops and could be ready to lead his own program.
Purdue co-defensive coordinator Mark Hagen: An in-house move doesn't seem overly likely, but Hagen has long-term connections to both Purdue and the state, and he could maintain continuity from the Brohm era. He's from Indiana and has spent more than 20 years coaching in the Big Ten, and he is in his second stint with Purdue after working there under Joe Tiller and other coaches. Hagen has served as co-defensive coordinator the past two seasons and helped engineer improvement with the unit. He also gained some key experience outside the Big Ten at Texas A&M, and could help grow Purdue's local and regional recruiting.