WEST LAFAYETTE — With a quarterback coach, Purdue football’s Barry Odom can attract more talent to the room.

Odom chose Darin Hinshaw, who spent the last two seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at his alma mater, Central Florida. Before his 26-year coaching career, he was a record-setting quarterback – and basketball player – for the Golden Knights.

“Darin’s approach to quarterback development and offensive philosophy make him one of the elite minds in the college game,” Odom said in a press release. “I have competed against his teams over the years; he always had answers and his boys played so well. He is also a tireless recruiter and I am excited to have him on our team.”

Hinshaw spent twelve seasons as an offensive coordinator in five conferences. However, his roots lie in the quarterback position. He served as passing game coordinator in Cincinnati under Tommy Tuberville, co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Kentucky and offensive coordinator at UAB before returning to UCF.

John Rhys Plumlee was an honorable mention All-Big 12 quarterback in 2023 under Hinshaw. He oversaw Lynn Bowden Jr.’s transition from receiver to quarterback at Kentucky. He also worked as a receivers coach at Memphis and Tennessee.

Purdue’s quarterback room remains in flux. Redshirt sophomore Bennett Meredith remains in the program. Two other scholarship quarterbacks from last season — part-time starter Ryan Browne and true freshman Marcos Davila — have entered their names in the NCAA transfer portal. 2025 signing class quarterback Sawyer Anderson walked away from that promise and signed with Arizona after Odom’s son Garyt transferred to the Boilermakers from UNLV.

A four-year starter at UCF, Hinshaw graduated as a program director in numerous passing categories. He also played for the Knights’ basketball team that advanced to the 1994 NCAA Tournament.

Now he must find the athletes in the quarterback room who can revitalize a Purdue offense that has been among the worst in the country this season.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Darin Hinshaw: Purdue football’s new quarterbacks coach, former UCF star and pro QB