Purdue and coach Jeff Brohm have agreed to a contract extension that will keep Brohm in West Lafayette, Indiana, through the 2027 season, the school announced on Friday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Brohm is 28-29 in five seasons with the program, including a 9-4 record this past season capped by a win over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl.
The 2021 season was highlighted by wins over No. 2 Iowa on the road and No. 3 Michigan State at home, and the Boilermakers finished with the second-best passing offense in the Big Ten (355.1 yards per game), trailing only Ohio State (380.9).
"We are excited about the progress we have made over the past five years," said Brohm. "We look forward to continuing to build our program into the future. I would like to thank our administration and fans for their support and our players and staff for their hard work and dedication. It is an honor to be the head football coach at Purdue."
Brohm burst onto the Power Five scene in 2018 when his Boilermakers stunned No. 2 Ohio State 49-20 in just his second year since leaving Western Kentucky. He famously turned down his alma mater Louisville after that season in order to continue the re-build at Purdue.
Purdue's decision to lock up Brohm long-term further confirms its rededication to football. Brohm's commitment to the program coupled with his success -- culminating with a strong 2021 campaign -- is a clear sign that the administration is ready to compete with the Big Ten West. What's more, it's not like the Big Ten West is a gauntlet. Wisconsin is always a threat and Iowa is usually a tough out, but Nebraska has had a hard time contending, Northwestern is consistently up-and-down and Illinois and Minnesota aren't exactly national title threats.
That dedication was further cemented on Friday when the Board of Trustees approved a $45.4 million renovation of Ross-Ade Stadium. The first phase of the renovation will include upgrades to the team's tunnel, creation of a nutrition/dining facility and a concourse connector to make the fan experience better. Additional phases to the renovation will be announced at a later date.
"These renovations will make a huge difference for our student-athletes and enhance the overall fan experience at Ross-Ade," said Brohm. "We are grateful to our fans, donors, the Board of Trustees, Mike Bobinski, and President Daniels for their commitment to the growth and success of Purdue Football. This project will have a positive impact on our program for years to come."
The stadium was once considered one of the worst in the Power Five, so much so that Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh publicly criticized its medical facilities following an injury to quarterback Wilton Speight in 2017. These new upgrades are an indication that administrators have a clear vision to upgrade every aspect of the program in order to contend in one of the toughest divisions in football.
