Charles Daniel Hope (born January 7, 1959) is an American football coach and former player. He served as the head football coach at Eastern Kentucky University from 2003 to 2007, and Purdue University from 2009 to 2012, compiling a career college football head coaching record of 57–49. He was most recently the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the South Florida Bulls football team before stepping down after one season for family reasons.[1]

Danny Hope
Hope in 2011
Biographical details
Born (1959-01-07) January 7, 1959 (age 65)
Gainesville, Florida, U.S.
Playing career
1977–1980Eastern Kentucky
Position(s)Offensive tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1981–1984Manatee HS (FL) (assistant)
1985–1994Louisville (OL)
1995Oklahoma (OL)
1996Wyoming (OL)
1997–2001Purdue (OL)
2002Louisville (AHC)
2003–2007Eastern Kentucky
2008Purdue (AHC/OL)
2009–2012Purdue
2015South Florida (co-OC/OL)
2019Eastern Kentucky (OL)
Head coaching record
Overall57–49
Bowls1–0
Tournaments0–1 (NCAA D-I playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 OVC (2007)
Awards
OVC Coach of the Year (2007)

Coaching career

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Hope was the head football coach at Eastern Kentucky University from 2003 to 2007. He is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky and also was a player at Eastern Kentucky. Before arriving at Eastern Kentucky, Hope was the offensive coordinator at Louisville. Hope was also an assistant coach in various capacities at Purdue, Wyoming, and Oklahoma prior to becoming the head coach at Eastern Kentucky.

Purdue

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Beginning on approximately January 7, 2008, several media outlets reported that Hope had been offered and accepted a coaching position at Purdue where it was expected that he would replace coach Joe Tiller as part of a succession plan.[2]

During his previous stay at Purdue, Hope was the offensive line coach for Tiller. He is credited with building the offensive line that protected NFL quarterback Drew Brees and produced several NFL offensive linemen, including All-Pro Matt Light.[3]

In his first game as head coach at Purdue in 2009, the Boilermakers won, 52–31, over Toledo.[4] Purdue lost their next five games before upsetting No. 7 Ohio State, 26–18, at home on October 17.[5] Later during the 2009 season, the Boilermakers won at Michigan for the first time since 1966 with a 38–36 come-from-behind win at The Big House on November 7. It was only the third time in program history that Purdue defeated Ohio State and Michigan in the same season.[6]

Hope's teams missed out on bowl games in both the 2009 and 2010 seasons. However, the 2011 team was able to record a 6–6 overall record and a 4–4 conference record, including a second win against Ohio State in three years. The team went to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, where they defeated Western Michigan, 37–32, to achieve Hope's first winning season at Purdue.[7] Following the season, Burke extended Hope with a two-year contract extension.[3]

The 2012 season was met with high expectations from fans, alumni, and Hope himself, who proclaimed that it would be his best team with many starters returning.[8] Moreover, with both Ohio State and Penn State serving bowl bans that year, the Boilermakers had a strong opportunity to win the Leaders division title. However, after a 3–1 non-conference start fueled by three wins against lower-tier competition, the team opened Big Ten play with five straight losses. Although the Boilers eventually won their final three games, including victories over archrivals IU and Illinois, and become bowl-eligible for the second straight year, athletic director Morgan Burke announced on November 25, 2012, that Hope would be fired. Wide receivers coach Patrick Higgins was named interim coach for the bowl game.[9]

Hope finished his head coaching career at Purdue with a record of 22–27. Purdue replaced him with Kent State's Darrell Hazell, who posted a record of 9–33.[10]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Eastern Kentucky Colonels (Ohio Valley Conference) (2003–2007)
2003 Eastern Kentucky 7–5 6–2 2nd
2004 Eastern Kentucky 6–5 6–2 T–2nd
2005 Eastern Kentucky 7–4 7–1 2nd
2006 Eastern Kentucky 6–5 5–3 T–4th
2007 Eastern Kentucky 9–3 8–0 1st L NCAA Division I First Round
Eastern Kentucky: 35–22 32–8
Purdue Boilermakers (Big Ten Conference) (2009–2012)
2009 Purdue 5–7 4–4 T–6th
2010 Purdue 4–8 2–6 9th
2011 Purdue 7–6 4–4 3rd (Leaders) W Little Caesars Pizza
2012 Purdue 6–6 3–5 4th (Leaders) Heart of Dallas*
Purdue: 22–27 13–19 * Hope fired before bowl game.
Total: 57–49
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ "USF co-offensive coordinator Danny Hope leaves staff for family reasons | TBO.com". Archived from the original on June 11, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  2. ^ "Purdue has line of succession set up, with Hope to become coach in 2009". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. January 11, 2008. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Purdue coach Danny Hope gets 2-year extension". www.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. December 23, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  4. ^ "Purdue kick starts Danny Hope era with 52-31 win". www.purdueexponent.org. Purdue Exponent. September 5, 2009. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  5. ^ "Purdue shocks No. 7 Ohio State". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. October 18, 2009. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  6. ^ Larry Page (May 1, 2012). "Purdue wins at Michigan 38-36, 1st time since 1966". www.themorningsun.com. The Morning Sun. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  7. ^ "Little Caesars Pizza Bowl: Purdue Hangs On To Beat Western Michigan, 37-32". www.detroit.sbnation.com. Vox Media, Inc. December 17, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  8. ^ Adam Rittenberg (November 25, 2012). "Purdue fires coach Danny Hope". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  9. ^ "No Hope: Purdue football coach out". www.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. November 25, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  10. ^ "After only 9 wins, Hazell coaching era at Purdue ends". October 16, 2016.
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