Nathan Baird

Journal & Courier

Purdue reached out to a former Big Ten Conference coach to fill its defensive coordinator vacancy.

On Friday, the Boilermakers announced the hiring of former Nebraska assistant Ross Els as its defensive coordinator.

Els succeeds Greg Hudson, who was one of three coaches fired following a 2-10 season.

Els' college coaching career spans 26 seasons — most recently as Nebraska's linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator from 2011-14. The Cornhuskers went 37-16 in his tenure and made four bowl appearances. Els was let go when Bo Pelini was fired following the 2014 season.

Among those Els coached at Nebraska were two linebackers now starting for NFL teams: Will Compton (Washington) and Lavonte David (Tampa Bay).

“I love what coach Els brings to our staff,” Purdue coach Darrell Hazell said in a news release. “He is incredibly detailed, yet very simplistic in philosophy. Our players will be fundamentally sound and play with great enthusiasm. He has been an excellent recruiter at every place he has coached; and I can’t wait to see our defense flourish with his addition to our team.”

Els could not immediately be reached for comment.

Els also coached linebackers at Ohio from 2005-10, serving as associate head coach in the final season. He helped the Bobcats to a pair of Mid-American Conference East Division titles and three bowl appearances.

Els, 50, spent last season as an assistant coach at Lincoln (Nebraska) Southwest High School. He stayed in Lincoln so his twins, son Bo and daughter Taylor, could graduate from their high school.

Els also coached at New Mexico State, Northern Iowa and Nebraska-Omaha, his alma mater. He spent six seasons as head coach at NAIA Hastings, compiling a 32-9 record with two undefeated regular seasons and two NAIA playoff appearances.

At Purdue, Els will be asked to help turn around a Boilermaker program that has won six games in three seasons under Hazell.

Purdue ranked 13th among Big Ten Conference teams last season in defensive scoring average (36.5), 12th in total defense (458.3 yards per game), 14th in rush defense (214.9 yards), 10th in pass defense (243.4) and 13th in first downs allowed and opponents' third-down conversion percentage. The Boilermakers' 1.8 sacks per game tied for ninth with Nebraska.

Players expected to return to Purdue's defense include linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley, a captain who played only five games last season before tearing an ACL; senior safety Leroy Clark, last year's tackles leader with 88; linebacker Danny Ezechukwu; defensive tackle Jake Replogle; safety Robert Gregory; and tackle Evan Panfil and end Antoine Miles, who led with four sacks apiece.