WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue football coach Barry Odom’s decision to bring Kevin Cain back as defensive coordinator was based on the coach and man he has known for two decades, rather than the role Cain held the previous two years.
Odom knows that bringing Kane back during a season in which he was fired along with the rest of Ryan Walters’ staff would draw questions and criticism. However, he also gave some recognition to Kane’s immediate impact when reflecting on Purdue’s transfer portal class during Friday’s press conference. He said several Boilermakers defensemen who initially entered the transfer portal or announced their intention to do so cited Kane’s hiring when deciding to return.
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Former defensive coordinator Odom said he plans to be more involved on defense than he was a year ago. However, Kane will call out his defenders on match days. Odom claimed that wasn’t always the case under Walters, with Kane sometimes holding the coordinator title without play-calling responsibilities.
“He’s had the opportunity to surround himself with some good coaches,” Odom said. “I think now his opportunity is really his and he’s going to be able to put his own identity and put his own stamp on it and I’m excited to see that.”
Odom first met Kane as a player at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City. Odom, then an assistant at the University of Missouri, recruited Kane, but Kane chose to play at Kansas. Odom then coached against him and the Jayhawks in the Big 12 Conference.
Their careers later focused on various camps and clinics. Odom said those experiences lead him to believe Cain can be tactically and scheme-wise to help improve a defense that allowed the second-worst yards per game in the Big Ten last season.
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“I respect the way he plays,” Odom said. “He has a tough quality as a player. He’s inherited that. The linebackers are going to play well because of his background and pedigree. He’s going to adapt and change us with the help of the room. He’s going to put together a good defense.”
Insider: Barry Odom betrays forward-facing focus as Purdue coach hires Kevin Cain
Cain also previously served as defensive coordinator at Northern Illinois and Southern Methodist University. Walters brought Kane from Illinois and named him defensive coordinator. However, he resumed defensive calling duties for the 2023 season.
The defense struggled despite honorable mention honors in freshman All-American Dillon Thieneman, future second-round NFL draft pick Nic Scourton and three other All-Big Ten selections.
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It ranks 11th among Big Ten teams in yards allowed per play, allows more 20- and 30-plus-yard plays than any other Big Ten team, and ranks third on third downs.
The next year, Walters began calling the offense together after firing offensive coordinator Graham Harrell midseason. The defense is having one of the worst seasons in program history, allowing a Big Ten-worst 6.76 yards and 43.5 points per game against FBS opponents.
Bobinski said: Results Will ‘Prove’ Whether Kevin Caine Is Best for Purdue D.C.
After Odom’s defensive numbers were even worse in his first season, defensive coordinator Mike Scherer left to pursue other opportunities. He later returned to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as linebackers coach.
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Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski said recently that Odom is not financially constrained in who he can look to fill the void. Odom chose Kane, who signed him to a two-year contract that will make him the same salary starting in year one as he will make through 2024.
“I have a lot of respect for the job he’s done and the type of guy he’s going to lead this team,” Odom said.
“I know he’s got a couple of years of experience here and I know there’s going to be questions about it. I felt very, very strongly about hiring Kane, but it’s not going to be easy. We screened a lot of candidates and it turns out that he’s the right person for the job right now in terms of what he’s done and what he’s going to bring to us.”
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This article originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star: Purdue head coach Barry Odom defends hiring Kevin Cain as defensive coordinator
