Purdue announces Tiller's replacement

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Purdue University announced Friday Danny Hope has been hired to replace Joe Tiller as head football coach when Tiller retires after next season.

Hope will serve as Purdue's associate head football coach during 2008. He was on Tiller's staff for five years before becoming head coach at Eastern Kentucky in 2003.

School officials said Hope had signed a six-year contract.

"It's great to be a Boilermaker again," Hope said. "I am honored and humbled to be back at a special place like Purdue University. I'm looking forward to being on Coach Tiller's staff again."

Hope compiled a 35-22 record at Eastern Kentucky, which won the Ohio Valley Conference title in 2007.

Tiller called Hope "the perfect choice to take over this program."