Purdue fires defensive coordinator Kevin Kane - ESPN

Purdue coach Barry Odom fired defensive coordinator Kevin Kane on Sunday, just nine games into his second stint as the Boilermakers' defensive playcaller.

The move came one day after Purdue (3-6, 2-4 Big Ten) gave up 27 second-half points and multiple big plays in a 34-29 loss to Maryland. The victory allowed the Terrapins (3-6, 1-5) to snap a 13-game conference losing streak.

Fans had been clamoring for a change almost from the moment things went south following a season-opening win over FCS school Indiana State.

But Odom brushed off any suggestion that he would make a switch and again declined to discuss a potential change following Saturday's loss even though he sounded more frustrated than usual.

«You can't play as good as we did early on defense, and then all of a sudden you give up four explosive plays — really for touchdowns,» he said. «You'll never win games doing that.»

Odom was not available to take questions Sunday and has not said who will take over as the playcaller, though he has done that himself in his previous coaching stops. He is expected to discuss the change during his regular weekly news conference Monday.

The Boilermakers have struggled since reaching the Big Ten championship game in 2022.

Ryan Walters, Odom's predecessor, went 5-19 overall and 3-15 in conference play during his two seasons in West Lafayette. Last year, Purdue was 2-10 but went winless in league play for the second straight season and had one of the worst statistical defenses in the nation. After Purdue opened this season with a win, the defensive struggles continued until an October victory over Illinois finally broke the Boilermakers' 19-game losing streak in league play.

Over the last month, Purdue appeared to be making progress