What we learned from Purdue football coach Ryan Walters' press conference

WEST LAFAYETTE - Ryan Walters entered the Kozuch Football Performance Complex Wednesday, shortly after noon, to an ovation from Purdue alumni, administrators and employees.

In tow was his family.

Along the way, he passed by some of the greats of Purdue football past: Mark Hermann, Rosevelt Colvin, Calvin Williams. He stopped to shake hands with Mung Chiang, Purdue's president-elect.

The 36-year-old former Illinois defensive coordinator was introduced as Jeff Brohm's successor to take over the role of head coach of Purdue's football program.

Did Walters win over the fan base in the press conference? Some, probably. But winning football games is what's more important and Walters, along with athletic director Mike Bobinski, believe that will continue under a new era of Boilermaker football. Walters' contract is for five years. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Here are five things we learned from Walters' first press conference as a Boilermaker and how it affects Purdue's football program moving forward:

He'll call the defense

Walters certainly does not lack confidence, and that's a good thing. You don't want a head coach who second guesses himself.

Bluntly, when asked if he would trust someone else to make the defensive calls, Walters said, "I do believe what I do is unique. I am not shy in saying I think I am the best defensive coordinator in the country right now. The numbers speak for themselves. I would not relinquish those duties unless I felt comfortable."

Illinois' defense this season ranked near the top in every statistical category, including first in points per game allowed, which is at the end of the day the only stat that matters for a defense.

Building a staff

A head coach is only as good as the staff he surrounds himself with. Walters hadn't even been on campus a full day before he was peppered with questions about who he'll hire, specifically to run the offense, and when he'll hire.

Naturally, Walters didn't have the answers, but it's clear he already has some names in mind.

"Everybody in the building is going to be high character guys," Walters said. "No egos. Nobody can care who gets the credit. From there, we have to be high football IQ."

Expect those names, at least a few anyway, to be announced in the coming days. The early signing period begins Dec. 21 and a staff will be paramount to securing recruits.

"There are a couple guys we are targeting pretty quickly that I've had on my radar for a long time," Walters said. "But at the same time, we are going to go through the process, make sure we are getting the right guys in the building. You get one shot at this deal. I want to make sure we have as much success as we can as a program. In order to do that, we have to have the right guys in the building."

Something unique

It was clear Bobinski wanted something that separated Purdue, something different than the status quo.

Walters has earned a reputation as a solid recruiter, but also as a defensive savant, which made him stand out from the pool of at least a dozen candidates who were considered.

Walters' defense, labeled as a 3-4, is not technically a 3-4, Walters said, because of the numerous variables that can change in any moment.

"It is so unique that there's no name for it yet," Walters said. "I've got to think of a name for it."

Bobinski took a chance that it will work and, though he said all considered candidates are quality football coaches, none of them have as much potential as Walters.

"At the end of the day, it was about hiring the person we thought was the very best for us," Bobinski said. "I think we've hired the person with the absolute highest ceiling out of everybody we talked to."

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Football guy

During his introductory speech, Walters opened up about his background.

His parents, living in Los Angeles at the time, got pregnant at age 16. Marc Walters was a standout quarterback in high school and played college football at Colorado. That was Ryan Walters' introduction to the game.

"I grew up in the locker room. Football, it's in me," Walters said. "I grew up with a football attached to my hand. It just so happened that I already was bleeding black and gold."

Walters also was a high school quarterback who said he has NFL dreams, which only grew when his family was on vacation at Disney Land in 2001 and saw then Purdue quarterback Drew Brees at the Rose Bowl parade.

Walters would go to Colorado, where he was an honorable mention all-conference safety for the Buffaloes. After his playing career, he was a student assistant coach for one season at his alma mater before being one of the nation's youngest position coaches at Arizona. He made several more stops since on his way to now being the fourth youngest head coach among Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs.

"Now was the right time (to become a head coach) because I feel like I am ready and because of this opportunity," Walters said. "Sometimes in this profession it takes a little bit of luck in terms of opportunity and you being ready for them when they arise. That has been something that has held true for me throughout my career. I was young as a position coach. It just kind of happened. The timing of it happened. Then I was young as a play caller. It just kind of happened."

This and that

∎ Walters said he will have no involvement in Purdue's Citrus Bowl preparation for the upcoming Jan. 2 game against LSU.

"This is their season," Walters said. "I want to allow them to continue to put a stamp on the success they've had this year. I'll be at the game. I'll watch the game. I am not evaluating anybody. I will not make suggestions, but I am excited to see them go compete."

∎ Walters is not coming to Purdue with a specific offensive and defensive scheme in mind. If Purdue needs to run the ball, it will run and if it needs to pass, it will pass, he said.

"I am not into stats," he said. "I want to win games."

Defensively, he's going to adjust to the personnel he has available.

"My job as a coach is to adapt to the players," Walters said. "Obviously I've got my own philosophies on scheme and alignment. That's all for naught if the players aren't suited to do that."

∎ What he's looking for in terms of recruits? Players who love the game, he said, rather than how many social media likes they're able to drum up. There's several places to find them, whether it be the transfer portal, or from high school players.

∎ Purdue has won 17 games the past two seasons, with a chance to make it 18 against LSU. It's not necessary to start over, Walters claimed.

"It's not a rebuild," he said. "I am trying to elevate and dive into and understand the tradition and the standard here. It will be my job to raise that standard and continue to chase and win championships."

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: What we learned from Purdue coach Ryan Walters' press conference