Purdue hires Darrell Hazell away from Kent State - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

Purdue hires Darrell Hazell away from Kent State

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Purdue has hired Darrell Hazell as its new football coach.

Hazell won this season's Mid-American Conference coach of the year award after leading Kent State to its first winning season since 2001, first bowl appearance in more than four decades and the brink of a BCS bowl game.

The 48-year-old Hazell grew up in New Jersey, but played football at Muskingum College in Ohio. He has strong ties to the Buckeye State, including a 7-year stint on the staff of former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel.

Kent State hired Hazell in December 2010 and he led the Golden Flashes to a 5-7 mark, 4-4 in the MAC, and a third-place finish in his first season as a head coach. This year, Hazell's squad went 11-2 overall and won the MAC East with an 8-0 conference mark. Kent State will play Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl on Jan. 6.

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