Ryan Walters to Purdue

[Sheffielder]

(DC for Illinois, in case you didn't recognize the name)

Resume:

2022-Present	Purdue	Head Coach
2021-22	Illinois	Defensive Coordinator
2019-20	Missouri	Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
2018	Missouri	Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
2017	Missouri	Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
2016	Missouri	Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
2015	Missouri	Safeties
2014	Memphis	Cornerbacks
2013	North Texas	Cornerbacks
2012	Oklahoma	Graduate Assistant/Cornerbacks
2011	Arizona	Defensive Backs
2010	Arizona	Graduate Assistant
2009	Colorado	Student Assistant/Secondary

 

[Hungry Jack]

A bit surprising that PU hired a DC, rather than an OC.

 

[zeek55]

Pretty much the definition of a meteoric rise.

Well deserved though, Illinois had one of the best defenses in the country this year and his Missouri defenses were improved substantially over his predecessor.

 

[DaCat]

Pretty much the definition of a meteoric rise.

Well deserved though, Illinois had one of the best defenses in the country this year and his Missouri defenses were improved substantially over his predecessor.

In his case, the cream rose to the top. Some things are pretty obvious. In the case of the NU defense these past two years, it was pretty obvious to just about everyone that the JON defense was simply awful. In a situation like this in the business world, a competent executive would quickly recognize the problem and move to correct it, especially this colossal in scale. Fitz's failure to address the problem quickly has put this program in a downward spiral. All one needs to look at are the two lopsided season-ending losses to our rivals in orange, 41-3 this year and 47-14 the previous year. And by the way, there are two parts to the problem - our offense has had an equally putrid performance these past two years as our defense.

 

[zeek55]

In his case, the cream rose to the top. Some things are pretty obvious. In the case of the NU defense these past two years, it was pretty obvious to just about everyone that the JON defense was simply awful. In a situation like this in the business world, a competent executive would quickly recognize the problem and move to correct it, especially this colossal in scale. Fitz's failure to address the problem quickly has put this program in a downward spiral. All one needs to look at are the two lopsided season-ending losses to our rivals in orange, 41-3 this year and 47-14 the previous year. And by the way, there are two parts to the problem - our offense has had an equally putrid performance these past two years as our defense.

Illinois went from being among the worst defensive teams in the years prior to Bielema to shooting up to the very top in the past 2 years. Their run defense was routinely ranked in the 100+ range in FBS prior to 2020.

It's been a total transformation under Bielema/Walters.

The good news here is that a transformation from worst to best (especially on the defensive side of the ball) can come pretty fast.

They showed improvement last year but become elite this year. We need to see that happen here.

2 years is plenty of time to fix this defense. The DC job is so important and the trajectories on that side of the ball of Northwestern and Illinois the past 2 years shows that more than anything.

The real test is that both of us need DCs now, so we'll see who ends up with the better one going forwards.

 

[Booty Maximus]

My guess is Illinois will promote Kevin Kane who was DC at SMU before joining the UI staff. Might give a call to Leonhard but sounds like he may be off to the NFL.

 

[hdhntr1]

A bit surprising that PU hired a DC, rather than an OC.

When changes are made, they often go the other direction from what they had