By: Harry Crowther
Jeff Brohm likes a challenge. In his first head coaching job, he led Western Kentucky to back-to-back double-digit win seasons, its two best since transitioning to FBS in 2009. Then he faced a decision.
Purdue, a program confined to the Big Ten’s basement, wanted Brohm to lead them out. Those he asked advised Brohm against moving to West Lafayette.
But Jeff Brohm likes a challenge.
“I remember asking a lot of colleagues of mine when I took it, ‘what do you think? Should I take this job?,’” Brohm said in his ACC Kickoff press conference. “Probably 95 percent said, ‘heck no, don’t take that.’”
Now, after elevating the Boilermakers to the penthouse, he’s back home at Louisville where he played and started his college coaching career.
“It’s a great honor,” Brohm said. “It’s a great opportunity. At the same time, yeah, it requires some pressure. I don’t want to let people down. There’s a lot of people that may think a certain way about me, and I want to make sure we build on that.”
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Cardinals are coming off an 8-5 season and four seasons under Scott Satterfield with a 16-18 record in the ACC. Brohm inherits a roster that returns six starters and key players on both sides of the ball. Ashton Gillotte leads a pass rushing unit that led the nation in sacks a season ago while Jarvis Brownlee and M.J. Griffin spearhead the secondary. Jawhar Jordan led the team in rushing in 2022 and returns as the starting running back.
To add to returning production, Brohm has assembled a talented transfer class. New starting quarterback and California transfer Jack Plummer is already familiar with the new offense having played for Brohm at Purdue. Jamari Thrash will be one of Plummer’s top targets after leading the Sun Belt in receiving yards for Georgia State a year ago. Purdue transfer Eric Miller promises to boost the offensive line at the tackle position. The challenge for Brohm is to instill a winning culture and put the pieces together.
“You have to find a way to elevate the program, and you have to be consistent in your approach,” Brohm said. “You have to piece it all together. You have to be aggressive in your approach, and you have to attack every day in order to win.”
With a favorable schedule and reinvigorated locker room, the Cardinals are a sleeper team to watch in the ACC. Brohm’s connection to Louisville and track record of building winning programs give the Cardinals a platform for success in 2023 and beyond.
Louisville opens the 2023 season Sept. 1 against Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
