Darrell Hazell is the 35th head football coach in Purdue University history. He’s the first African-American head football coach at either Big Ten school in this state and only the fourth African-American Big Ten head football coach in history. Coach Hazell appeared live on Afternoons with Amos and talked with Amos about his making history at Purdue and his expectations for his team this coming season. Hazell not only stressed success on the field but he wants his student athletes to have success in the classroom. Hazell also talked about recruiting in “The State of Purdue” which to Hazell means recruiting the vast majority of his players from Indiana and surrounding states. Coach Hazell promised that his Boilermakers will not only stress the pass (Hazell was a star wide receiver in college) but that the run and tenacious defense will be what folks see this season. Darrell Hazell came to Purdue from Kent State, where he served as head coach in 2011 and 2012, compiling a 16-10 record. The Golden Flashes enjoyed arguably their most-successful season ever in 2012. They finished 11-3, won their first-ever Mid-American Conference East Division Championship and played in their first bowl game in 40 years – the GoDaddy.com Bowl against Arkansas State. And Coach Hazell was named 2012 MAC Coach of the Year. Serious about academics, more than fifty of his Kent State players had GPA’s above 3.0. Prior to his stint at Kent State, Hazell spent seven seasons at Ohio State, where he served as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach under Jim Tressel. A 27-year veteran of the college coaching ranks, Hazell previously coached at Rutgers, West Virginia, the U.S. Military Academy, Western Michigan, Pennsylvania, Eastern Illinois and Oberlin. Hazell is a 1986 graduate of Muskingum College with a B.A. in speech communications and business. He was a three-time all-conference selection as a wide receiver, setting still-existing school records for career receptions (132) and receiving yards (1,966). As a senior, he earned All-America honors and was voted a team captain. A native of Cinnaminson, N.J., Hazell is married to Annmarie and they have a son, Kyle. Click the Arrow to Hear Amos’ Interview with Purdue Head Football Coach Darrell Hazell. Runs 10 Minutes ©2013 WTLC/Radio One.
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