Hazell Announces Resignation After Accepting Position At Purdue
12/5/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
KENT, Ohio- Darrell Hazell announced his resignation as Kent State's Head Football Coach on Wednesday (Dec. 5) to accept a similar position at Purdue University.
In Hazell's two-year tenure, the Golden Flashes went 16-9 and recently accepted the program's first bowl invitation in 40 years. After winning the Mid-American Conference East Division title, Kent State (11-2) is currently ranked No.25 in both the AP Top 25 and BCS.
"Darrell helped put our football program on the map again and we are very grateful for his efforts," Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen said. "We wish him nothing but the best; but we have no intention of disappearing from the map."
A search for Hazell's successor begins immediately.
"There is great coaching talent out there - like Darrell - seeking an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities," Nielsen said. "Our search will be both thorough and quick - and mirror the search we did that resulted in Darrell joining Kent State two years ago."
From players to fans, the culture around Kent State football has changed since the second half of the 2011 season under Hazell.
"This time, one huge difference that we have in our program's favor is that our players really believe in themselves and their teammates," Nielsen said. "That's evident in the success we've witnessed over the past two years. We plan to build on that belief by hiring a coach who believes strongly in his ability to make a difference in the lives of our players both on and off the field."
Hazell will serve as the Golden Flashes' head coach at the GoDaddy.com Bowl on Jan. 6.
Hazell becomes the 13th former head coach from the MAC in a current FBS head coaching position. Next season, 26 of the 124 FBS coaches (21 percent) will be either current or former MAC head coaches—including both coaches in the BCS Championship Game – Alabama's Nick Saban (Toledo and a Kent State alum) and Notre Dame's Brian Kelly (Central Michigan). The list also includes five head coaches in the 12-team Big Ten.
Big Ten – Urban Meyer, Ohio State (Bowling Green); Brady Hoke, Michigan (Ball State); Jerry Kill, Minnesota (Northern Illinois); Tim Beckman, Illinois (Toledo); Darrell Hazell, Purdue (Kent State)
Ind. – Brian Kelly, Notre Dame (Central Michigan)
Big East – Butch Jones, Cincinnati (Central Michigan)
SEC-Nick Saban, Alabama (Toledo); Gary Pinkel, Missouri (Toledo and a Kent State alum)
ACC-Al Golden, Miami (Temple); Steve Addazio, Boston College (Temple); Dave Doeren, NC State (Northern Illinois); Jim Grobe, Wake Forest (Ohio)
The Golden Flashes take on Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl, Jan. 6, inside Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Kickoff on ESPN is set for 9 p.m. Eastern/8 Central.
