Opinion: Time is right for Jeff Brohm to leave Purdue, go home to Louisville

WEST LAFAYETTE - Jeff Brohm is gone.

It's not a surprise the now former Purdue football coach is leading Louisville's program.

Rumors circulated throughout this season. I was told prior to the Big Ten Championship that Brohm would be Louisville's coach by Sunday. He wasn't, but by Monday morning, it was all but finalized in the minds of most that he would be.

I asked Brohm, point blank, Monday morning if there had been contact between himself and Louisville. He responded, "No, there's been no contact."

That may have been true at that time, and if it was, he knew there would be. And he probably already knew that, assuming his alma mater could line up the right finances, he was not going to be Purdue's head coach by the end of the week.

At a 1 p.m. team meeting Wednesday, Brohm informed his players that he was no longer their head coach.

More:Jeff Brohm is reportedly leaving Purdue, will be hired as Louisville football coach

This was always the next step in his coaching career, and it's not been a secret. He could've left in 2018, but, as Brohm said then, the time was not right. He was in tears having to tell family members that the perceived destiny of him coming back to Louisville was not going to happen just yet.

He had unfinished business at Purdue and, now, he can leave knowing he elevated the Boilermakers, checking off a list of accomplishments almost any fan would've been happy with when he signed on in 2016.

Brohm leaves with list of accomplishments

Fans who wanted Brohm fired - there's some with every fan base - or who are celebrating his exit simply don't appreciate what he accomplished at Purdue or don't recall exactly how bad the Boilermakers were when he became the head coach.

It's a minor miracle the 2017 team, under Brohm's leadership, went 7-6 and won a bowl game.

The ugly years before Brohm came in, Purdue might have been the worst power five football program. Yes, there was a dip after his first two seasons, but to win 17 games the last two seasons, beat an SEC team in a bowl game and reach the Big Ten Championship game is about as good as it gets at Purdue, if we're being realistic.

There are unforgettable memories, mostly notable the 49-20 demolishing of No. 2 Ohio State to back up Purdue super fan Tyler Trent's prediction on ESPN College Gameday in 2018.

For those who believe Brohm quit on his Purdue team, stop it.

This is how college football works.

The coaching carousel moves quickly these days. A new coach needs to be in place in advance of the Dec. 21 early signing period. I'll be shocked if Purdue doesn't already have its head coach of the future lined up with enough time to secure a 2023 recruiting class by that date.

Bowl games every year include teams with interim coaches and without star players who choose to sit out to prepare for the NFL draft. That's not how it used to be, but it's how it is now and if Brohm told Louisville he wanted to coach Purdue through the bowl game, he probably would still be Purdue's head coach because it would tremendously hurt Louisville to sit back and wait. It also would've cost Purdue an additional $600,000 if he was still the head coach, per the terms of his contract extension signed last spring that he was due a bonus if he was still Purdue's coach on Dec. 31, 2022.

I'll preface the next statement by saying I have no affiliations with the Brohm family.

Jeff Brohm knows me likely only as a face at press conferences or on Twitter.

But I do not blame him for leaving.

This is his preferred destination.

That doesn't mean he doesn't love Purdue. Brohm does, I assure you. He loves Louisville more, and he should. The Brohm name on that campus, and in that city, is legendary.

Is it a lateral move?

Yes, probably.

But it's home and most knew it would be for him again someday.

Unlike 2018, the time seems right now.

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Opinion: Time is right for Brohm to leave Purdue, go home to Louisville