Loading ...Report: Purdue assistant Mark Hagen to coach IU D-Line
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by Dustin Dopirak | Monday, December 20, 2010 - 3:20 pm UTC
Rivals.com’s Tom Dienhart is reporting that Purdue linebackers coach Mark Hagen will coach Indiana’s defensive line and special teams.
Hagen has been a coach at Purdue since 2000, but he is an Indiana alum and was a two-time second-team All-Big Ten linebacker in 1990 and 1991. He also worked in the IU athletic department as a graduate assistant to the strength coach in 1992 and ’93 and an administrative assistant from 1993-95.
Hagen was also an assistant at Northern Illinois as a defensive tackles coach for three years before going to Purdue. He served as a defensive tackles coach for the first five years and worked with special teams for the first eight years.
Also, a source says New Mexico defensive coordinator Doug Mallory and Nebraska linebackers coach Mike Ekeler are expected to officially be named co-defensive coordinators at some point today. Whether Hagen’s hiring will also be released today is unknown.
UPDATE, 5 p.m.: Hagen was not part of Monday’s release that Doug Mallory and Mike Ekeler are co-defensive coordinators. However, Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan tweeted “Sad to see Coach Hagen go but I wish him all the best! Thanks coach for getting me to Purdue.” That obviously adds even more credence to the report that he will be joining IU.
Great hire. Always hated to see Hagen coaching the Boilers but a job is a job. Great to have him back home at IU. If he brings half of what he did at PU and NIU, then IU football will be well served!
Interesting to switch between two in-state rivals like that for what appears to be a lateral move. But who would want to stay in West Laf? Good for Hagen to come home and good for IU. Hopefully this strengthens IU and weakens Purdue and Hagen can bring some of his best recruits to Bloomington.