Former Purdue coach Joe Tiller dies
Purdue announced Saturday morning that former coach Joe Tiller has died. He was 74.
Tiller is the winningest coach in Purdue history. He compiled an 87-62 record in 12 seasons at the school. His teams won at least eight games five times. After Tiller was fired from the school after the 2008 season the team hasn’t won eight games since.
Tiller coached New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, perhaps the most famous player in school history. Brees was one of the most productive quarterbacks in that era of college football thanks to Tiller’s wide-open spread passing attack that was dubbed “basketball on grass.”
“Today is a very sad day for me and the entire Purdue family,” Brees said in a Purdue statement. “Coach Tiller was an important person in my life and to so many other guys who played for him. He did so much more than teach us how to win. He taught us life lessons and how to be great leaders and men.”
Tiller came to Purdue from Wyoming and became the school’s winningest coach in his final season with the team.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
