Former Kent State head coach Darrell Hazell fired from Purdue

Henry Palattella

The Darrell Hazell era is over at Purdue University.

Hazell — Kent State’s head coach in 2011 and 2012 — was fired 24 hours after the Boilermakers 49-35 homecoming loss to the University of Iowa on Saturday.

Hazell amassed a record of 9-33 (3-24 in Big Ten games) in three and a half years as the Boilermakers head coach.

“From the first time I met Darrell, I could tell he was a man of high character — a quality person who you would want leading a group of young men — but our inconsistent performance and inability to generate positive momentum thus far this season, along with the disappointing results of the past three seasons, made it clear to me that we needed to make a change,” Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski said in a press release.

Hazell went 1-11 in 2013, 3-9 in 2014, 2-10 in 2015 and 3-3 in 2016. Purdue never won back-to-back games with him as the head coach.

Purdue signed Hazell to a $12.75 million, six-year contract in December 2012, after he amassed a 16-10 record in two years at the helm of the Flashes. Hazell’s best year coaching the Flashes was 2012, when he led Kent State to a 11-3 record and a berth in the Godaddy.com bowl, where they lost to Arkansas State University. Purdue will be on the hook for the rest of Hazell’s contract.

Hazell replaced Danny Hope as Purdue’s coach, who garnered a 22-27 record and two bowl trips in his four years as Boilermakers head coach.

Receivers coach Gerad Parker will serve as Purdue’s head coach for the rest of the season.

Paul Haynes has served as Kent State’s head coach since Hazell left in 2012. He has complied a 11-31 record in that time since. The Flashes have only managed back-to-back victories once under Haynes regime.

Henry Palattella is a sports reporter, contact him at [email protected].