Report: Purdue hires Darrell Hazell as next coach

Purdue is set to hire Kent State's Darrell Hazell as its next coach. (Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

Purdue University is hiring Kent State's Darrell Hazell as its new head football coach, reports CBSSports.com.

Hazell had a 16-9 record in two seasons at Kent State and previously served as Ohio State's wide receivers coach for five seasons.  Purdue fired Danny Hope last month after he went 23-27 in four years at the school. Purdue also interviewed Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones for the job, and he ultimately turned down the offer.

This season, Hazell was named the Mid-American Conference's Coach of the Year and led his team to their first winning season in 11 years. Kent State finished 11-2, got as high as No. 17 in the BCS rankings, and lost to Northern Illinois in double-overtime  in the MAC championship game.

Kent State will play Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl on Jan. 6 in Mobile, Ala. It will be their first bowl appearance in 40 years.