Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/103497
b r i a n n e u b e r t help (still) wanted mid-January It'sdead period and recruiting is alive again, its having personnel director Kevin Maurice — to handle recruiting for the time being. There's no question a head coach shouldn't be able to answer adequately, but uncommitted recruits will want to know who their coaches will be. Those are legitimate concerns, though their importance is dwarfed by the importance of Hazell finding the right coaches. Purdue wants big names, "all-stars" in A.D. Morgan Burke's words from Hazell's introductory press conference. Fine. It's all fine and good to want to assemble a staff of those boasting robust résumés with lots of big-name schools listed. It's perfectly understandable to want to impress the fans you're desperately trying to lure back to Ross-Ade Stadium and maybe raise some eyebrows in the industry by making notable hires. But Hazell's got to make these calls. It's his eye for talent, both in players and coaches, that'll go a long way in determining how Purdue fares on his watch. It's him who knows how he Just like in recruiting, Purdue should not be chasing names so much as it should be chasing fits. And with hires as important as these to come, take all the time you need. j Neubert can be contacted at BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS CERAMIC • ENGINEERED HARDWOOD LAMINATES • MARBLE CARPETING Specializing in • Homes • Churches • Businesses • Schools Where Contractors Buy Their Flooring Builders! Call our Contract Department and ask for our Contract Specialist 3437 State Road 26 E. 765-447-9393 800-403-6889 FAX 765-448-9978 Across from the Post Office GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS come and gone. Signing day is just weeks away, with precious few official visit weekends remaining. And new Purdue coach Darrell Hazell's first Boilermaker coaching staff is not yet complete, far from it. Six coaches have been hired, though they've not yet been announced publicly for whatever reason. Marcus Freeman, Jon Heacock and Jafar Williams have come over from Kent State. Greg Hudson has left Florida State and Kevin Sherman from Virginia Tech. Most recently, Jim Bollman of Boston College was lined up. That's a half dozen assistant coaches in place. You're allowed nine. So there are three openings left to fill at a time when most staffs in college football are complete. Of those vacancies, there's a gaping void: Offensive coordinator. That one's kind of important, particularly in the context of Hazell coming in without a predetermined system, but rather a promise to allow the makeup of his inherited personnel to determine his program's philosophy, at least at first. That we know of, Purdue does not have a defensive line coach lined up and only recently added its O-line coach at a time when, Purdue literally has almost no linemen committed, save for linebacker-ish D-end Jake Replogle. Virtually every offensive or defensive linemen who's pledged to this point has either de-committed or fallen through academically, a very strange coincidence, but a shortfall Hazell's going to have to make up for between now and Feb. 6. And it seems — seems — like this is a situation where Hazell is still looking for coaches, as opposed to waiting on them. Is this cause for concern? It's certainly not ideal, but Purdue does have a staff of at least eight men — Hazell, six assistants and remaining player wants his football team coached. And he's the one who has to work with these guys. When Joe Tiller was hired in 1997, he brought with him a bunch of no-names, but a bunch of damn good no-names who'd make up a tremendous staff that blended well, worked tirelessly and brought innovative ideas to the Big Ten. GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS e d i t o r GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS GO BOILERMAKERS f r o m GoldanDBlack express • volume 23, express 17 • 4