Lafayette Times

Walters Announces Purdue Football Coaching Staff

Purdue Football head coach Ryan Walters has finalized his coaching staff for 2023, his first season as the leader of the Boilermakers. After hiring coordinators Graham Harrell (Offense) and Kevin Kane (Defense) during his first week on the job, Walters spent his first month completing his staff and hitting the recruiting trail.

 

Joining Walters at Purdue are: Cory Patterson (Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers), Sam Carter (Cornerbacks), Lamar Conard (Running Backs), Joe Dineen (Outside Linebackers), Seth Doege (Tight Ends), Brick Haley (Defensive Line), Matt Mattox (Offensive Line), Grant O'Brien (Safeties) and Kiero Small (Director of Strength and Conditioning).

 

"I am extremely excited and blessed to have this group of coaches join our Purdue family," said Walters. "This staff is dedicated to developing real relationships on and off the field with the young men in our locker room. We have hit the ground running on the recruiting trail with energy and precision. I cannot wait for our team, in its totality, to get on the field this spring."

 

Patterson, Dineen and O'Brien make the short trip from Champaign to West Lafayette to reunite with Walters and Kane. While Patterson was guiding running back Chase Brown to an All-American season, Dineen and O'Brien assisted Walters with the nation's No. 1 scoring defense, all helping Illinois finish second in the Big Ten West behind Purdue.

 

Conard returns to his alma mater after five seasons at Miami (Ohio). The running backs coach played defensive back for the Boilermakers (1996-99), beginning his career as a walk-on before earning a scholarship and starting the final three seasons for legendary head coach Joe Tiller. A decade later (2007-08), he began his coaching career as one of Tiller's graduate assistants.

 

Carter and Doege spent the past season at Ole Miss, where Carter coached the cornerbacks and Doege served as an analyst. Haley, a 31-year coaching veteran, ventures south after one season at Minnesota, while Mattox travels north from UTSA following three years in San Antonio. Carter and Haley worked alongside Walters at Missouri, helping turn the Tigers into one of the SEC's top defensive units.   

 

Small becomes the new leader of Purdue Football's strength and conditioning program after spending the past five seasons as the associate director of strength and conditioning at Michigan. Nate Rock (Associate Director), Austin Winfree (Associate Director), Tom Gordan (Assistant Director) and Greg Robinson (Assistant Director) have joined Small's strength staff at Purdue. 

 

Season tickets for the 2023 Purdue Football season are on sale now. Click here to purchase new season tickets. If you are a current season ticket holder and would like to renew for 2023, click here.

 

Cory Patterson – Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers

Patterson spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Illinois, which included the past two years coaching the running backs. Patterson spent his first three seasons with the Illini as tight ends coach after three seasons as the highly successful head coach at Trinity Catholic High School in St. Louis.

 

This past year, Patterson guided Chase Brown to an All-America season. Becoming a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, Brown rushed for 1,643 yards to average 136.9 yards per game and rank third nationally. Under Patterson's tutelage, the Illinois running back led the country in 100-yard games with 10 throughout the season.

Patterson was key to Illinois' recruiting efforts, specifically in St. Louis. Two of the highest rated recruits in the modern era signed from St. Louis with Patterson at Illinois. Isaiah Williams, Patterson's quarterback at Trinity, and Shammond Cooper, Trinity's star linebacker, both came to Champaign-Urbana in 2019 as four-star prospects and top 150 recruits in the nation.

Walters on Patterson

"Coach Patterson brings a relationship-driven approach to his coaching style and techniques. He is an excellent recruiter, really detailed and is a student of the game. I'm excited for his energy to permeate throughout our locker room."

 

Sam Carter – Cornerbacks

Carter makes the move to the Big Ten after gaining experience throughout the SEC in stops at Missouri, Arkansas and Ole Miss. In his lone season with Ole Miss, Carter mentored cornerback Deantre Prince, who led the team with 11 pass breakups to go along with one interception. In his two years in Fayetteville, Arkansas' secondary quickly displayed its prowess as a talented ball-hawking group. The Razorbacks tallied 26 total interceptions since 2020, the second most in the SEC behind only Alabama. Carter helped lead Arkansas to a record of 9-4 in 2021, the program's best mark since 2011.

Carter joined the Razorbacks from Missouri, where he served as a defensive quality control and analyst for Barry Odom alongside Purdue head coach Ryan Walters. Carter helped the Tigers' defense rank as one of the best in the nation, particularly in the secondary, in 2019. Missouri's pass defense ranked sixth in the FBS and second in the Southeastern Conference, allowing only 179.3 yards per game.

Carter was a standout, All-Big 12 safety at TCU prior to starting his coaching career. The New Orleans native played in 49 games for the Horned Frogs from 2011-14, starting 39 including all 38 over his final three years. As a senior, he was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, a Senior CLASS Award finalist and a Senior CLASS Award Second Team All-American.

 

Walters on Carter

"Coach Carter is one of the more competitive individuals I've ever come across, beginning from our time spent together at Missouri. Not only was he an All-American football player, in my opinion, he's an All-American coach. He will bring an energy and enthusiasm every day that is unmatched."

 

Lamar Conard – Running Backs

Conard returns to his alma mater following five seasons as the running backs coach at Miami (Ohio). His first season at Miami was a memorable one, helping Alonzo Smith and Kenny Young reach new heights. Smith finished the year with a career-best 746 yards and nine scores, while Young combined for 751 yards and eight scores under Conard. In 2019, Jaylon Bester established career numbers in rushing yards (741) and touchdowns (14).

Conard came to Miami after nine seasons at Illinois State. For seven years, he coached running backs and served as the recruiting coordinator for the Redbirds. In his time with the running backs at ISU, Conard produced three 1,000-yard rushers.

Conard was a defensive back for the Boilermakers from 1996-99. He was the first walk-on at Purdue to be awarded a scholarship under Joe Tiller, doing so in 1997. He was a three-year starter and played in all 37 games during his final three seasons. His career totals included 118 tackles (68 solo, 50 assists), six pass breakups and four interceptions.

 

Walters on Conard

"Coach Conard is a former player here at Purdue, someone that has worn the Old Gold and Black and understands what it means to be a Boilermaker. On the recruiting trail, when we had this position open, I can't tell you how many phone calls I got about his ability to recruit the state of Indiana. Being from here, putting sweat equity into this program, I'm excited about his passion and hunger to get to know and develop the players in his room."

 

Joe Dineen – Outside Linebackers

During the 2022 season, Dineen helped coach the Illini outside linebackers alongside Kevin Kane. With Walters leading the way, Dineen assisted in guiding the nation's best scoring defense. He joined Illinois from SMU after serving as a defensive graduate assistant under then-SMU defensive coordinator Kane.

 

Dineen was an All-American linebacker at Kansas from 2014-18. With the Jayhawks, he was a 2018 consensus All-American, AP All-American and two-time Sports Illustrated All-American. Dineen was also an All-Big 12 First Team selection and three-time team captain. Dineen twice led the NCAA in solo tackles per game and was the Big 12 leader in tackles and tackles-for-loss.

 

Off the field, he was recognized as a Senior Class All-American, a Ronnie Lott IMPACT Award and Jason Witten Man of the Year semifinalist and a nominee for the Allstate Good Works Team. Dineen was also a member of the Big 12 All-Academic Team, a two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioners Honor Roll and a member of the Athletic Directors Honor Roll.

 

Walters on Dineen

"Coach Dineen is a bright, young coach. He reminds me a lot of myself at that age, very in tuned to the details as a student of the game. Joe is a great people person, highly competitive, even-keeled in nature and will really push to get the most out of his position group."

 

Seth Doege – Tight Ends

Doege (pronounced DAY-ghee) spent the 2022 campaign with Ole Miss following three years as USC. Prior to being promoted to tight ends coach in 2021, Doege was an offensive quality control analyst for the Trojans in 2019 and 2020.  He was instrumental in USC's on-campus recruiting efforts, including playing a key role in helping the Trojans' signing a highly-ranked 2021 class that features a pair of Top 100-rated quarterbacks. 

Doege arrived at USC after three seasons (2016-18) at Bowling Green, the first as a graduate assistant, the second as the receivers coach and the last adding special teams coordinator to his receivers duties. Wideout Scott Miller was an All-Mid-American Conference first teamer in 2016, while catching 74 passes for 968 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

Doege played quarterback at Texas Tech (2009-12), starting his final two seasons. As a junior in 2011, he was 398-of-581 for 4,004 yards and 28 TDs, set an NCAA completions percentage record when he hit 40-of-44 passes (90.9%) against New Mexico and led the Red Raiders to an upset over No. 3 Oklahoma.  As a 2012 senior, he completed 380-of-541 passes (70.2%) for 4,205 yards and 39 TDs (Top 5 nationally in passing yards, TDs, completions and completion percentage), passed for 504 yards in an upset over No. 5 West Virginia, threw seven TDs in a win over TCU, earned MVP of the Meineke Car Care Bowl and was a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award. His 69.0% career completion mark was a school record. Doege spent the 2013 season on the practice squad of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, then played with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2014. 

 

Walters on Doege

"When I got a chance to meet Coach Doege during the interview process, I felt like I had known him for 10 years. He loves football and obviously has a quarterback background, but he has been really creative with his use of the tight ends. I am excited for him to bring those ideas from Ole Miss to our system at Purdue, and his knowledge of the game is unmatched."

 

Brick Haley – Defensive Line

Haley brings 31 years of experience – both in college and in the NFL – to the Boilermakers. He has primarily coached the defensive line in his career, but has also been a defensive coordinator and coached linebackers. During his career, Haley has mentored 11 NFL Draft picks, including a pair of first round selections.

 

Making the move to the Big Ten, Haley spent the 2022 season at Minnesota as the defensive line coach. Haley's line helped the Golden Gophers finish Top 10 nationally in scoring defense (third), third down defense (fifth), fewest first downs allowed (seventh) and total defense (ninth). Prior to Minnesota, Haley was at Missouri where he coached the defensive line for four seasons and also held the title of senior associate head coach. While at Missouri, alongside Ryan Walters, he mentored a defensive line that was routinely one of the top performing units in the Southeastern Conference. 

Haley's career includes stops all around the country, including: Texas (2015-16), LSU (2009-14), the Chicago Bears (2007-08), Mississippi State (2004-06), Georgia Tech (2002-03), Baylor (1999-2001), Clemson (1998), Houston (1997), Troy State (1994-96), Austin Peay (1991-93) and Arkansas (1990).

 

Walters on Haley

"Coach Haley brings experience and continuity within the staff. He has developed defensive lineman unlike anybody I have seen. His knowledge of footwork and technique, the way he demands the best from his players, it's something that we are really excited about on the defensive side of the ball."

 

Matt Mattox – Offensive Line

An 18-year coaching veteran, Mattox joined Purdue following three years at UTSA and helping turn the Roadrunners into one of the top Group of Five teams in the country. He was elevated to UTSA's co-offensive coordinator in 2022, after serving as the Roadrunners' run game coordinator and offensive line coach for two seasons. His offense averaged 476.0 yards per game, ranking 12th nationally, racking up the third-most first downs in the country and setting a school record (362). UTSA scored a Conference USA-best 36.8 points per game (14th nationally), including 48 to lead the Roadrunners past North Texas in the conference championship game. With Mattox's offense leading the way, UTSA finished the 2022 campaign with an 11-3 record and a perfect mark (8-0) in league play.

 

Prior to UTSA, Mattox spent the 2019 season as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at McNeese State. His career also includes stops at USF (2017-18), Texas (2016), Tulsa (2015), Bowling Green (2014), Eastern Illinois (2013), Coffeyville Community College (2012), and Butler (Kan.) Community College (2007-11).

 

A native of Holton, Kansas, Mattox was a second team junior college All-American tight end at Butler Community College. He played his final two collegiate seasons (2002-03) at Houston, moving from tight end to offensive tackle prior to his senior season. As a senior, Mattox earned Second Team All-Conference USA honors at offensive tackle as the Cougars posted a 7-6 record and played in the Hawaii Bowl. 

 

Walters on Mattox

"Coach Mattox is the coolest offensive line coach I have ever come across. He really understands the game and how to be innovative in both pass protection and on the ground running the football. We are excited about him getting to know and develop the offensive line room, helping bring a unique energy and style of play to Purdue."

 

Grant O'Brien – Safeties

O'Brien's final season in Champaign saw the Illini post an 8-4 record, holding opponents to 10 points or fewer in seven of those victories. He helped Purdue head coach Ryan Walters and defensive coordinator Kevin Kane position Illinois' defense in the nation's top 10 of 17 different categories, including the No. 1 scoring defense.

 

O'Brien joined Illinois following three years at Missouri as a defensive quality control analyst. He helped Missouri earn bids to the 2020 Music City Bowl and the 2018 Liberty Bowl during his time in Columbia, primarily with the Tigers' defensive backs. O'Brien came to Missouri after stints at FIU (2017), Arizona Christian (2015-16), and Northern Arizona (2013-14).

 

O'Brien played collegiately at Northern Arizona University, contributing as a defensive back and on special teams, following two seasons at Glendale Community College (Arizona). During his time at Glendale, he played quarterback and defensive back and was selected as a special teams captain, helping the Gauchos win back-to-back Valley of the Sun Bowls. O'Brien was an All-Academic selection at Northern Arizona University and helped the team to an FCS playoff berth in 2012.

 

Walters on O'Brien

"Coach O'Brien is a high character, high IQ individual, and he cares about his players unlike anyone I have ever been around. He understands conceptually what we are trying to accomplish on defense. He is a diligent worker that will add tremendous value to our staff."

 

Kiero Small – Director of Strength and Conditioning

During his time in Ann Arbor, Small mentored 13 NFL Draft picks and 12 First Team All-Big Ten honorees, as well as 10 All-Americans. Under Small's tutelage, the Wolverines grew into a powerhouse, winning the Big Ten and making the College Football Playoff in each of the past two seasons.

 

Prior to his jump into the coaching ranks, Small spent two seasons in the NFL playing for the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

 

Small was a devastating blocking fullback for three seasons at Arkansas. He appeared in 25 games for the Razorbacks totaling 152 yards on 41 carries with four rushing touchdowns. He added one receiving touchdown on 20 career grabs. With Small coming out of the backfield in 2011, Arkansas finished the year ranked fifth in both major polls behind an 11-2 record and defeated Kansas State 29-16 in the 2012 Cotton Bowl Classic.

Walters on Small
"We are very excited about the energy and intensity that Kiero brings to the program. Ben Herbert at Michigan is one of the most respected strength coaches in the business, so I am eager to see Kiero's personal spin on that style of strength program and that philosophy. He will be relationship driven, he will dive into the sciences behind strength and conditioning, and he will provide us a competitive edge to our locker room that will show up on Saturdays." 

Original source can be found here