GBI Magazine

"The other thing Coach (Darrell) Hazell said to me was that they're going to be a little more grassroots in their efforts and build a base in the Midwest, with Indiana being the state they hit the hardest, then get around the rest of the Midwest, too. That's a big deal, too." Indianapolis Pike coach Derek Moyers each of whom had family connections to the Boilermakers. But whereas Purdue might have recruited the state in passing in past years, it's now a priority, part also of Hazell's strategy to capture hearts and minds locally, build a following and as a result, he hopes, sell tickets. Purdue has been well received, coaches say. "You've seen coaches thankful to have us in their school, because they've never had a Purdue guy or don't remember having one in there in a long time," said recruiting coordinator Gerad Parker, one of the coaches dispatched to various Indiana high schools in April. "To be able to get back in and develop a rapport with our state and show these guys we care about our state and want to recruit our state, that's our No. 1 thing." Purdue has reached out to Indiana high school coaches in a variety of ways. In March, its entire staff — from Hazell to his assistant coaches to support staff — attended the Indiana High School Football Coaches Association convention in Indianapolis, four of its coaches presenting during the clinic portion of the weekend, something that could become an annual event. It's not a football-exclusive position but it certainly doesn't hurt Purdue's efforts in Indiana that it now has former director of football operations Casey Nuss working as high school relations director, an outreach position designed to, obviously, enhance relations with high school athletic departments and, trickling down, its football programs. But as Purdue looks to strengthen its brand in Indiana, it's the coaches that will have the most say. So far, so good, high school coaches say. "It's neither here nor there, but I just think this staff's a little more personable," said Lake Central coach Brett St. Germaine, whose program sent Yancey to Purdue last year and now has top Boilermaker target 2014 target Gelen Robinson. "They seem a little more approachable and more down-to-earth guys, I guess. That's my first impression, and not that those other guys were bad guys or anything like that, but it seems like these guys are a little more sincere." Derek Moyers coaches Pike in Indianapolis, a Red Devil program that has become one of the most talent-rich in the state, led now by nationally recruited wide receiver Dominique Booth, who visited Purdue for a junior day in the winter. Purdue's probably not going to get the elite receiver recruit, but its efforts now could pay off with those who follow him in the years to come at Pike. Moyers says his relations with the past Purdue staff were strong. But he's appreciated the new staff's efforts so far as well. When Hazell had a few days this winter to visit schools during his whirlwind December — when he was coaching Kent State and recruiting Purdue's 2013 class — Pike was a priority stop. This month, assistant coach Jon Heacock, who'll Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 5com

• Cover