Purdue is parting ways with defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Mike Scherer, per reports.
The 32-year-old Scherer came to Purdue from UNLV, where he was defensive coordinator for Barry Odom in 2023 and 2024. Scherer coached linebackers at Arkansas under Odom and also played linebacker at Missouri for Odom.
Purdue already has parted ways with two other assistants: RB coach Lamar Conard and OL coach Vance Vice as Odom preps for his second season in West Lafayette. Purdue has promoted analyst Bilal Marshall to receivers coach, a spot Cornell Ford already occupies.
Purdue’s defense ranked 17th (second-to-last) in the Big Ten in 2025 (423.5 ypg) during a 2-10 season that saw the Boilermakers be the lone conference team without a Big Ten victory (0-9). Purdue finished the 2025 season with 10 defeats in succession after opening 2-0.
Purdue also was 16th in scoring defense (31.8 ppg) in the Big Ten, 16th vs. the run (181.8 ypg) and 18th vs. the pass (241.7 ypg). And the Boilermakers were 16th in turnovers forced with only nine (five fumble recoveries and a league-low four interceptions).
Scherer was paid $1 million in 2025.