The Purdue Boilermakers have parted ways with their offensive coordinator, Graham Harrell, following a dismal start to the season. Harrell, a former record-breaking quarterback under Mike Leach at Texas Tech, was the first major hire for head coach Ryan Walters when he took the reins in 2022.
Initially, Harrell’s arrival seemed to pay dividends, with the team putting up 49 and 35 points in wins over Minnesota and Indiana, respectively, late last season. However, after a promising 49-point opener against Indiana State, an FCS program, the Boilermakers have struggled to find the end zone, scoring a mere 38 points in losses to Notre Dame, Oregon State, and Nebraska.
The team’s woes continued on Saturday, as they failed to reach the end zone until the final minutes of their 28-10 home loss to Nebraska. Coach Walters has since decided to make a change, citing the need to shake things up after a disappointing start to the season.
“While decisions like this are never easy, I believe it’s in the best interest of our team to make a change now,” Walters said in a statement. “We appreciate Graham’s contributions to our program and wish him all the best moving forward.”
The question on everyone’s mind is who will take over offensive play-calling duties and quarterback coaching. Harrell, 39, brought a wealth of experience to the role, having previously coordinated at West Virginia, USC, and North Texas. His departure will undoubtedly be felt, as he was set to earn $950,000 this season and $1 million in 2025, making him the highest-paid assistant on the Purdue staff.
As the Boilermakers look to regroup and refocus, they’ll face a tough test on the road against Wisconsin this coming Saturday. With a 1-3 record, Purdue will need to find a way to reignite their offense if they hope to turn their season around.
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