WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana — Since Ryan Walters was officially named Purdue Football’s next head coach for the 2023 season, he’s been gathering his staff and embarking on the recruiting lane.
The Boilermakers brought in offensive coordinator Graham Harrell and defensive coordinator Kevin Kane in Walters’ first week at the helm. On Wednesday, the team officially announced the rest of the coaching staff.
In addition to Walters, Harrell, and Kane, Boilermakers welcomed Cory Patterson (associate head coach/wide receiver), Sam Carter (cornerbacks), Lamar Conard (running backs), Joe Dineen (outside linebackers), Seth Doege (tight ends), and Brick Haley ( defensive line), Matt Mattox (offensive line), Grant O’Brien (safeties) and Kiero Small (director of strength and conditioning).
“I am very excited and blessed to have this group of coaches join our Purdue family,” Walters said in a press release. “This team is dedicated to developing genuine relationships on and off the field with the young men in our dressing room. We started with energy and precision on the recruiting path. I can’t wait for our team as a whole to come onto the field this spring.”
Cory Patterson
Associate head coach, wide receiver
Patterson, like Kane, reunites with Walters after spending five seasons as an assistant in Illinois. He served as tight ends coach for the Fighting Illini before moving on to coaching running backs.
In 2022, Illinois running back Chase Brown finished as a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, rushing for 1,643 yards in the year under Patterson’s lead.
“Coach Patterson brings a relational approach to his coaching style and techniques,” Walters said. “He’s an excellent recruiter, very detailed, and a student of the game. I look forward to his energy permeating our dressing room.”
Sam Carter
cornerbacks
Carter joins the Big Ten after stints in the SEC with Ole Miss, Arkansas and Missouri. In one season with the Rebels, he coached cornerback Deantre Prince, who recorded 11 pass separations and one interception.
During the two seasons that Carter was with the Razorbacks in 2020, the team recorded 26 interceptions and finished second in the conference behind Alabama. Arkansas posted a 9-4 record in 2021.
Before leaving for Fayetteville, Carter was in Missouri – along with Walters – serving as defensive quality control and analyst under Barry Odom.
“Coach Carter is one of the more competitive players I’ve come across, starting with our time together in Missouri,” Walters said. “Not only was he an All-American football player, he’s also an All-American coach in my opinion. He will bring an unparalleled level of energy and enthusiasm to every day.”
Lamar Conard
Running backs
Conard is returning to his alma mater after five years coaching the running backs in Miami, Ohio. He also spent nine seasons as an assistant at Illinois State, seven of which served as the team’s running backs coach and recruiting coordinator.
Between 1996 and 1999, Conard was a defense attorney for the Boilermakers, who began his collegiate career as a walk-on. He received a fellowship with Joe Tiller in 1997 and was a starter for three years.
Conard played all 37 games in his last three seasons and finished the tournament with a total of 118 tackles, six pass breakups and four interceptions.
“Coach Conard is a former player here at Purdue, someone who’s worn the old gold and black and understands what it means to be a boilermaker,” Walters said. “On the recruiting path when we had this position open I can’t tell you how many calls I received about his ability to recruit Indiana State.
“Being from here and putting sweat capital into this program, I appreciate his passion and hunger to meet and develop the players in his room.”
Joe Dineen
Outside linebackers
Dineen is another assistant who joins Walters after coaching in Illinois. He helped Kane coach linebackers for the Fighting Illini.
As a collegiate player, Dineen was an All-American linebacker at Kansas, playing from 2014-2018. He was also an All-Big 12 First Team selection and a three-time team captain. He twice led the NCAA in solo tackles per game and was the Big 12 leader in tackles and tackles-for-loss.
Dineen was also recognized as a Senior Class All-American, Ronnie Lott IMPACT Award and Jason Witten Man of the Year semi-finalist, as well as an Allstate Good Works Team nominee.
“Coach Dineen is a smart young coach,” said Walters. “He reminds me a lot of myself at that age, as a student of the game, very focused on the details. Joe is a great person, very competitive, balanced in nature and will really push to get the best out of his position group.”
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Seth Doge
tight ends
Like Harrell, Doege played quarterback at Texas Tech during his college career. He spent three years at bowling in various capacities, first as a research assistant before ending up at USC.
He was offensive quality control analyst for the Trojans in 2019 and 2020 before being promoted to tight ends coach in 2021. Doege spent last season as an offensive analyst at Ole Miss.
“When I had the opportunity to meet Coach Doege during the interview process, I felt like I’d known him for 10 years,” Walters said. “He loves football and obviously comes from a quarterback background, but he’s been very creative with his use of the tight ends. I look forward to him bringing these ideas from Ole Miss to our system at Purdue and his knowledge of the game is unmatched.”
Brick Haley
line of defense
Haley comes to West Lafayette with 31 years of coaching experience in both college football and the NFL. His stints include Texas, LSU, Clemson, Arkansas and the Chicago Bears, among others.
During the 2022 season, Haley served as Minnesota’s defensive line coach. He coached with Walters in Missouri for four years in the same role and also held the title of Senior Associate Head Coach.
“Coach Haley brings experience and continuity to the staff,” said Walters. “He’s developed defenders like I’ve never seen before. His knowledge of footwork and technique, the way he demands the best from his players is something we’re really excited about on the defensive side of the ball. “
Matt Mattox
offensive line
Mattox joins the Purdue football program after spending the last three seasons with UTSA. He was named co-offensive coordinator for the Roadrunners in 2022 after serving as the team’s run game coordinator and offensive line coach for two years.
In his 18-year coaching career, Mattox has also held positions at McNeese State, USF, Texas, Tulsa, Bowling Green, Eastern Illinois, Coffeyville Community College and Butler Community College in Kansas.
“Coach Mattox is the coolest offensive line coach I’ve ever met,” said Walters. “He really understands the game and knows how to innovate in both pass protection and execution of the football. We’re excited that he’s learning about and developing offensive line space, helping bring a unique energy and playstyle to Purdue. “
Grant O’Brien
collateral
O’Brien is another member of the Purdue coaching staff coming to West Lafayette from the Illinois Football Program. He joined the Fighting Illini after spending three years in Missouri as a defensive quality control analyst.
During his playing career, O’Brien was a defensive tackle and special teams contributor at Northern Arizona University.
“Coach O’Brien is a person of high character and high IQ and he cares about his players unlike anyone I’ve ever been with,” Walters said. “He has a conceptual understanding of what we’re trying to achieve on defense. He’s a hard worker who will bring tremendous value to our staff.”
Kiero Klein
Director of Strength and Conditioning
Small previously served as a strength and conditioning assistant at Michigan and oversaw 13 NFL draft picks, 12 First Team All-Big Ten honorees and 10 All-Americans while with the Wolverines.
Before joining the collegiate ranks, Small was a 2014 NFL seventh-round draft pick at fullback and spent two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Brown and Baltimore Ravens.
“We are very excited about the energy and intensity Kiero brings to the program,” said Walters. “Ben Herbert of Michigan is one of the most respected strength coaches in the business, so I’m excited to see Kiero’s personal take on this style of strength program and philosophy.
“He’s going to be relationship-oriented, he’s going to delve into the science behind strength and conditioning, and he’s going to give us a competitive edge over our locker room, which shows up on Saturdays.”
Related stories about Purdue football
- Purdue Football announces hiring of coordinators: Purdue head coach Ryan Walters announced that Graham Harrell and Kevin Kane will join the Boilermakers as coordinators ahead of the 2023 football season. CLICK HERE
- Purdue optimistic for 2023 season under Ryan Walters: Following a 7-63 loss to LSU in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Purdue Football is entering a new chapter under coach Ryan Walters. The Boilermakers will look to build on their success over the past two seasons when they step onto the field in 2023. CLICK HERE
- Purdue receives three votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll: Purdue finished the 2022 college football season with an 8-6 overall record and earned three votes in the Associated Press’s most recent Top 25 poll following his 63-7 loss to LSU in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. CLICK HERE
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