Legendary Purdue coach and Big Ten innovator Joe Tiller dead at 74

Former Purdue head football coach Joe Tiller passed away leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest pioneers in Big Ten football history.

Former Wyoming and Purdue head football coach Joe Tiller has passed away at the age of 74. Tiller coached six seasons at Wyoming but it largely remembered for his 12 years in West Lafayette as the head coach of the Purdue Boilermakers. Tiller compiled a 87-62 record during his time with Purdue that was highlighted by the magical 2000 season that saw the Boilermakers win the Big Ten and play in the Rose Bowl.

Purdue was tri-champions in the Big Ten that year with a 6-2 conference mark but they had the honor of representing the conference in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1967. Led by quarterback Drew Brees who was a Heisman finalist after Brees leading the conference in completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns en route to setting the Big Ten career passing yards record.

Together with fellow All-American tackle Matt Light, Mackey Award winner Tim Stratton, receiver Vinny Sutherland and running back Montrell Lowe, Purdue made history thanks to Tiller’s innovative offense he brought from Wyoming. 19 players from that Rose Bowl team ended up playing in the NFL, including  Stuart Schweigert, who was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and defensive end Akin Ayodele who was a co-captain and led the team with nine sacks.

Tiller introduced “basketball on grass” or the spread offense to the conference that was known for their “three yards and a cloud of dust” offensive philosophy. It was a revolutionary change and a necessary change that allowed Purdue to compete with the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin in the conference. He changed the game and made it so fun to watch his teams play.

20 years after his first year at Purdue, his impact on the conference and college football is evident every Saturday with more teams adopting his spread offense principles. He was an innovator who was a few decades of his time. The way Mike Leach is revered today for his offense is the way Joe Tiller should be remembered for his offensive philosophy.

Purdue has largely struggled and been near the bottom of the Big Ten standings since Tiller was unceremoniously fired after only his second losing season with the Boilers. There is a new era of Purdue football underway though with Jeff Brohm as the team’s head coach and he’s a coach cut from the same cloth as Tiller.

After cutting his teeth at Western Kentucky where his offenses routinely ranked among the nation’s elite, Brohm is bringing that same philosophy to West Lafayette to shake up the norm. In short time, Brohm’s Purdue teams may start to resemble the teams Tiller had and they’ll be back to winning eight and nine games a year.

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Purdue didn’t win the Rose Bowl against Washington, but it doesn’t really matter. Purdue won by having Tiller as their coach, on their sideline, in their community, giving fans the best football seen in the last 50 years. Purdue won simply by having him as their coach.

Tiller may be gone but his legacy certainly lives on at Purdue and across college football. In that respect, Tiller will be an immortal part of the history of college football and a legend and icon at Purdue.