New Purdue coach Barry Odom has a defensive coordinator. And it’s a familiar name for Odom: Mike Schereraccording to a Report from FootballScoop.com.

Scherer spent the past two years as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UNLV under Odom, who was introduced as head coach at Purdue last week after leading the Rebels to a 19-8 mark in 2023-24. In 2024, Scherer helped the Rebels finish in the top 30 nationally in points allowed per game.

Scherer, 31, began his career at Missouri as a GA in 2019 when Odom was head coach (2016-19) and worked at Arkansas from 2020-22 as a linebackers coach under Odom, then the Razorbacks’ defensive coordinator. Scherer played linebacker for Odom at Missouri from 2012 to 2016.

Scherer is the first of what is expected to be a handful of UNLV assistants to follow Odom to Purdue after the Rebels’ 2024 season ended with an LA Bowl win over Cal on Wednesday night.

Scherer is from St. Louis and attended Tony County Day School.

Purdue has officially hired five assistants: Hinshaw, DE Jake TrumpDL Kelvin GreenOC/TE Josh Henson and R.B Lamar Conard. And Jason Simmons was hired as director of high school relations.

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