Overview
- Purdue dismissed Kevin Kane on Sunday after nine games in his second stint as defensive coordinator, and the school has not named an interim replacement.
- The firing follows a 34-29 Homecoming loss to Maryland that featured 75-, 87- and 44-yard touchdown plays and 27 second-half points that exposed repeated breakdowns in coverage and tackling.
- Purdue’s defense has ranked at or near the bottom of the Big Ten this season, surrendering 32.1 points per game, high yards-per-play figures and an unusually large number of explosive runs and passes.
- The university released Kane’s employment contract showing he is owed the remainder of his base pay through Dec. 31, 2027, totaling about $141,667 for Nov–Dec 2026 and $1 million for 2027 with no offset if he takes another job.
- Head coach Barry Odom acknowledged the hire was a mistake, and the midseason change creates immediate pressure on staff stability, short-term game planning, and the program’s ability to recruit and retain players during the upcoming transfer window.