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April 9, 2004
Purdue Director of Athletics Morgan J. Burke Last Friday, I spoke with Gene and he said that he was going to remain at Purdue for a 25th season. I told him I respected him and what he has accomplished in his career; this court bears his name, and it's exciting to know that he will cap his 25-year career at Purdue as its head coach. Our objective all along was a planned transition, meaning that we were going to be honest in our communications. We shared a list of potential successors and our lists were almost identical; we both had Matt Painter on our lists. On Monday, March 29, Gene and I met with University President Martin Jischke and we discussed our succession plans regarding Matt. We all came away from that meeting with a good feeling, but we needed some time for everything to soak in before making an announcement. Gene and I discussed Matt's plusses and we both agreed that Matt would be an ideal successor. We all know that recruiting is the lifeblood of any athletic program, so the uncertainty has to be eliminated from any potential recruits, and therefore Matt will carry the baton as the 18th head coach in the 107-year history of Purdue basketball, beginning in 2004-05. Gene and I have been conducting a search for a successor for the past three years, and in that time there have been a lot of names to come on and drop off that list. Matt's name first surfaced last spring based on a recommendation from Bruce Weber. Bruce said that Matt was going to surprise a lot of people and would be coaching in the Big Ten sooner rather than later; Bruce's words proved to be prophetic. The majority of Purdue fans are delighted by this decision, and the players are excited as well. Next year we're going to play hard and have some fun in this building (Mackey Arena)."
On the importance of hiring someone with ties to the university...
On why the change was made this year rather than last year...
On why no contract extension was given to Gene Keady... This has been a tough month for both Gene and I, and we've had many issues to address as of late. However, we both agree that basketball is the cornerstone of Purdue athletics, and had to make sure we handled this transition with respect to the 100-plus years of tradition this program is built upon."
Purdue head coach Gene Keady I'm very proud of the fact that we can get someone like Matt to come back and be the head coach after another year. It will be fun to work with him. I know the players are looking forward to it. He's been through all the wars of playing in the Big Ten. The timing is right for Matt to be here and I'm very proud to have Matt be the head coach after next year. I was not trying to leverage the San Francisco position against Purdue. I just wanted to coach, and San Francisco gave me that opportunity. I wanted to do what was best for my family and wanted to do what was best for the players. Mostly, it was my loyalty to Purdue that made me want to stay. This process has not been easy, but I think it will be very worth while. Matt has become one of the finest young coaches in the game. As I talked to Dr. Jischke, he wanted to know why we liked Matt Painter, so I told him the same thing I've told Morgan. He's honest, he's hard working and he will recruit his tail off. He is loyal and humble and will create an excitement in this team. He is very good at the X's and O's and is a basketball junkie just like Bruce Weber and myself; he also has been successful at every level. He has paid his dues at a young age and deserves this opportunity. Matt has his own philosophy. He is not going to use what I used or what Coach Weber used. He's going to be his own man. But right now, he's got to be worried about being my man."
On what he plans on doing after this upcoming season...
Associate head coach Matt Painter I am excited about being at Purdue and, I'm excited about helping Coach (Keady). When I was an assistant for Coach Weber, I didn't mind the role. I actually enjoyed the role, and I'll enjoy a similar role with Coach Keady. It is not about him, it is not about me, it is about the players and winning a Big Ten championship. I'm ecstatic, along with my wife, to be in this position, but it's really about players, and it's really about carrying that torch that Coach is going to be passing to me in a year. Right now I'm just trying to help out, and trying to do whatever coach needs me to do. You can't forget how it was as a player, and I think that as coaches, we forget a little bit about it. It's hard to go to school, it's hard to balance everything, and then compete, so you have to have a little bit of compassion towards the student-athlete. Also, you have to have guys that will lay it on the line. I think if you have that happy medium, you'll have guys that will go to war for you." I'm proud to be from Purdue University, and if I wasn't, I wouldn't be standing up here. When I had to make my decision, I had to compare two different kinds of passion. They both dealt with family. I always talked to my wife about Gene Keady and Purdue basketball. It's really a religion; it's what's inside of you.
Again, I am excited to be here, and I'm looking forward to helping these guys win a Big Ten Championship."
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 2008-09 Season Highlights
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2008-09 Season Photo Retrospective
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Highlights: Purdue 76, Washington 74
Boilermakers Win Big Ten Tournament
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