Bob Asmussen | Walters received an offer he couldn't refuse…but maybe he could have newsletter

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CHAMPAIGN – Of course, Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry is rooting for Ryan Walters. Except Saturday, when Walters brings his Purdue Boilermakers to Memorial Stadium.

“All the time when we’re not playing him,” Henry said of his keen interest. Henry replaced Walters as defensive coordinator after working with him for two years.

“When you have relationships with people, it's natural to not want them to have problems,” Henry continued. “This coaching profession is crazy. You may be at a time in your life where you are having a lot of success, doing great things, and everything is going well. And then you may be in another period of your life where there are difficulties.”

Henry and Walters are friends.

“When Walt was here, we always talked about whether we had a chance to compete against each other. “We’re going to hold each other’s necks and hug after the game,” Henry said. “It’s like a brotherhood.”

After the 2022 season, Purdue lost coach Jeff Brohm to his alma mater, Louisville. This was a school that the Boilermakers feared would poach their man, and they were right.

There have been other Brohm rumors over the years, but other than the Cardinals, none of them made much sense. This is home. Where he played. Where his brother played. It's a given to go back there again.

Purdue could have cast a net over the Group of Five and gone in search of their next big boss. There were interesting possibilities.

Purdue took a different approach and hired the hotshot coordinator from the best defensive team in the country: Illinois.

Gotta work, right? Well, not yet.

Walters posted a 4-8 record in his first season in 2023, including a stunning win against his former employer. He beat rival Indiana, which helped reassure people at home. And the Boilermakers lost three one-score games. It looked like progress was being made.

Until it wasn't the case anymore. The 2024 season began with an easy win against FCS program Indiana State. It's been a disaster ever since. A 59-point loss to Notre Dame was followed by a 17-point loss at Oregon State, then an 18-point home loss to Nebraska and a 46-point loss at Wisconsin.

The average margin of the four defeats: 35 points.

Now Purdue is a 19-point underdog at Illinois. Next week, No. 3 visits Oregon. Then a trip to No. 2 Ohio State and a home game against No. 4 Penn State.

Things are getting worse and more catastrophic.

Will Walters survive until 2025? I hope so. But right now he needs signs of life from his terrible crime.

Walters fired offensive coordinator Graham Harrell after the loss to Nebraska, but that didn't help last Saturday against Wisconsin.

The problem with defensive-minded head coaches like Walters is that when the offense fails, the solution may require a complete change in philosophy. When the head coach knows the offense, the plays are much easier and quicker.

Right now, Purdue is stuck in an offense that isn't working. The likelihood of a breakthrough against the upcoming teams on Purdue's schedule: slim and non-existent.

Couldn't say “no”.

Walters became the first assistant coach in Illinois history to receive at least $1 million. In 2022, he made big money working on a team full of talent with a solid head coach, Bret Bielema.

Given the success of the Illinois defense, it was inevitable that someone would want to hire Walters as head coach. Colorado, his alma mater, seemed like a logical choice, but the school chose Deion Sanders. That seems to have worked out well for the people in Boulder, where football is playing a big role again.

In a perfect world, a Group of Five school in an area full of talent would have called Walters and given him an entry-level job. That could have happened, but Purdue crossed the line.

There is no way for Walters to turn down Purdue. Sure, his $1.3 million salary at CU was great. But $4 million in West Lafayette, Indiana is even better.

More importantly, it's the Big Ten. They accept the jobs when they are offered. Always.

Walters has so much confidence in his abilities that he thought he could overcome the concerns by working harder than everyone else. If only that were all that mattered.

College football's past is littered with well-meaning coaches who should have taken a moment before taking a new job. The opportunities presented themselves for Walters. He just had to choose the right thing. At least so far, that’s not Purdue.

Still time

Walters is far from done with the Boilermakers. His contract runs for three years.

If 1-4 turns into 1-5 on Saturday against the Illini, which I suspect it will, a bowl game will be almost impossible for Purdue. With two games to go before postseason elimination, it's hard to imagine the offense winning two of three games against the No. 2, 3 and 4 teams in the country.

Walters does not require a bowl bid this season. In fact, thanks to his coach-friendly contact, he appears to be safe until at least 2025.

It would cost Purdue more than $9 million to buy out the remainder of his five-year contract before next season.

Good job from everyone who negotiated the deal for Walters. He had a very secure job in Illinois that he could have kept for a decade. It's wise to consider the consequences if things don't work out at Purdue.

After the 2024 season, Walters will need to find a new offensive coordinator. Fortunately, the 2025 schedule isn't quite as bad.

Sure, there’s another game against Notre Dame (in South Bend). And for some reason, Ohio State is back. But no Oregon or Penn State. But Michigan and Southern California are on the list.

Walters probably won't get past a lost season in 2025. Therefore, the offseason will be crucial for both staffing and the transfer portal.

Back in CU, his friend Henry will be watching and cheering.

Except when Purdue plays Illinois.