Kevin Kane, who joined the Gophers as outside linebackers and nickels coach in January, is leaving Minnesota to become Purdue’s defensive coordinator, Boilermakers coach Barry Odom announced Friday.
Kane replaces Mike Scherer, who wasn’t retained by Odom, Purdue’s first-year coach. This will be Kane’s second stint as Purdue’s defensive coordinator, a position he held under former Boilermakers coach Ryan Walters in 2023 and 2024. Kane also has been a defensive coordinator at Northern Illinois and SMU.
Kane is the second assistant coach on the Gophers’ 2025 staff that won’t return next season. Defensive line coach Dennis Dottin-Carter was dismissed after the regular season ended.
The Gophers rank 11th in the Big Ten and 42nd nationally in total defense (342.3 yards allowed per game) and 13th in the conference and tied for 56th nationally in scoring defense (23.4 points allowed per game).
Minnesota (7-5) finishes its 2025 season on Dec. 26 against New Mexico (9-3) in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix.
