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BY BRIAN NEUBERT BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com Disclaimer: Here's our list in alphabetical order of logical candidates that may (or may not) be con- sidered for the Purdue football opening. It's a safe bet some of these will be fully vetted by athletic director Mike Bobinski and those involved with the coaching search. But there is certain to be many others not listed here. Dave Aranda About: Aranda has emerged as one of the best defensive coor- dinators in college football, as he showed during his three years at Wisconsin under Gary Andersen, then Paul Chryst. He moved to LSU this year to be its D-coordinator and associate head coach. 2016 SEC record: 5-2 (3-1 SEC) Why: We talk a lot about Purdue's need for an offen- sive coach, in part because of its need to entertain and be interesting, but the Boilermaker defense needs to be brought to a competitive level, as well. Aranda has quickly made a name as one of the best D-coordinators in the business. With LSU's staff in limbo right now, he will be the hottest free agent in that market. Unless he gets his first head coaching job instead. Why not: Aranda has no head coaching experience, wouldn't be the offensive innovator Purdue might pre- fer and doesn't have much in the way of Midwest con- nections aside from three seasons spent around the Big Ten's northernmost reaches in Madison. Jeff Brohm About: Brohm, 45, is considered both one of the hot- test prospective hirings in college football and one of its better offensive minds. The former Louisville and NFL quarterback's Hilltoppers teams were 22-9 under his di- rection, prior to this season, after he succeeded Bobby Petrino after Petrino spent one sea- son at WKU. 2016 record: 5-3 (3-1 Confer- ence USA) Why: Purdue may prioritize an offensive mind with this hire, in hopes of entertaining as well as winning. Brohm's track record and reputation suggests he'd do that. Why not: Might be another question of Brohm's interest in context, considering he could draw signif- icant interest this hiring season. His name came up for several jobs last year. He does seem to be a logical choice as next in line at Louisville if, or when, Petrino leaves again. Bob Diaco About: The Iowa grad and for- mer Notre Dame defensive coordi- nator took over at Connecticut in 2014 and had the Huskies in a bowl game in Year 2, with a signature win over then-ninth-ranked Hous- ton to boot. He's an East Coast na- tive, but Midwest ties run deep. In addition to playing at Iowa and coaching at Notre Dame, he spent time at Western Illinois, Eastern Michigan and Central Mich- igan, coaching on both sides of the ball at one time or another in his career. 2016 record: 3-5 (1-4 AAC) Why: Diaco's experienced some success in a short period of time at a program with very little football history, with a basketball-oriented reputation and a low-profile recruiting base nationally. If Bobinski pays any favor to Notre Dame ties, then Diaco fits the bill. Why not: Diaco's known as a defensive coach and though he's had success at Connecticut, it's been sig- nificant only in context. And after taking a big step forward in 2015, the Huskies opened this season 2-3. The Sixteen That (Might) Fit Purdue Our list of candidates to lead Boilermaker football LSU University of Connecticut Western Kentucky 88 GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED