Purdue Fires Defensive Coordinator Kevin Kane After Maryland Loss

Purdue announced that Kane’s departure takes effect immediately. He also coached the linebackers. The school had not announced who would handle defensive coordinator duties next or outlined a longer-term plan for the position.

The change followed a third consecutive loss for Purdue, which fell to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten play. The Boilermakers have given up at least 31 points in each of those three defeats. Against Maryland, they led after the first half but surrendered four second-half plays that ended in touchdowns, including a 75-yard run and an 87-yard screen pass.

Purdue has allowed 32.3 points per game this season, placing 17th in the Big Ten in that category. Its opponents have converted 47.52% of third downs, the league’s highest rate. Kane returned to Purdue before the 2026 season after serving as the team’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2023 and 2024. He had previously been hired by head coach Barry Odom after the 2025 season, following Mike Scherer’s departure for UNLV.

The Boilermakers have three games remaining, against Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana. Kane’s firing means Odom will need to find another defensive coordinator, the team’s third in three seasons under his leadership. The change comes late in the schedule, leaving a new defensive voice to take over for the final stretch.