Purdue set to hire Illinois assistant Kevin Kane as defensive coordinator

Illinois associate head coach and outside linebackers coach Kevin Kane is expected to be hired as Ryan Walters’ defensive coordinator at Purdue, sources tell On3.

Kane worked with Walters the last two seasons at Illinois and helped the Fighting Illini improve from 97th nationally in scoring defense in 2020 to 29th last year and No. 1 this season.

Prior to joining the Illini, Kane was a defensive coordinator at SMU (2018-20) and Northern Illinois (2016-17).

A former Kansas linebacker, Kane was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection as a junior in 2004 and a senior in 2005.