Darrell Hazell: Latest News, Rumors Surrounding Purdue Coach's Future | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Purdue is reportedly planning to bring back head football coach Darrell Hazell for a fourth year despite continued on-field struggles leading to a 2-6 record this season.

Continue for updates.

School Has Not Announced A Final Decision

Thursday, Nov. 5

Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports reported that, while nothing is official, the current expectation is that Hazell will be back on the Boilermakers' sideline in 2016. He noted it's been more than four decades since the school let a coach go within four years (Bob DeMoss).

It's also noted the coach's buyout, which the Indianapolis Star stated would be around $6.6 million if it's done on Jan. 1, 2016, could play a role in keeping him. Former Purdue coach Joe Tiller told Yahoo Sports the school is hesitant to spend that type of money to fire somebody.

"Purdue is pretty close to the buck, and they're not going to pay him that kind of money to [buy him out]," Tiller said. "People have asked me during the course of this fall if coach Hazell is on his way out and I said, 'I don't think Purdue will replace him for at least one more year, and maybe two.'"

Hazell, who went 16-10 across two seasons at Kent State before taking the Boilermakers job, is just 6-26 (.188) during his three-plus years in West Lafayette. He hasn't led the program to a bowl, and it hasn't won more than seven games since 2007, when Tiller was in charge.

Clearly the results aren't anywhere near good enough as a whole, even with the recent Big Ten victory over Nebraska. In most cases, the coach would probably be on his way out after a third unsuccessful campaign, but apparently there are more factors in play.

So barring a change of the reported plans, that gives Hazell at least one more recruiting class and another season to show meaningful progress.