Danny Hope Named EKU Head Football Coach

By EKU Sports Information

December 09, 2002

Eastern Kentucky University President Joanne K. Glasser, Esq., has appointed current University of Louisville Assistant Head Football Coach and offensive line coach and former EKU Colonel offensive lineman Danny Hope, as EKU’s 12th head football coach.

The announcement was made Friday, Dec. 6, at an afternoon news conference on campus.

Hope, 43, is currently assisting the U of L coaching staff prepare for the Cardinals’ appearance Wednesday, Dec. 18, in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, AL.

“I’m eager and I’m excited to begin what is for me a dream job at my alma mater,” said Hope. “I promise you this. I will work day and night to put a quality product on the field.

“My playing experiences here at Eastern and my coaching experiences at the University of Louisville and elsewhere have taught me what it takes to win at the championship level. We will be exciting and we will win big at EKU. This university, the Richmond community and Colonel fans scattered all over the country deserve nothing less.”

In making the announcement, President Glasser cited Hope’s outstanding career, enthusiasm and coaching background as keys to her decision.

“It was imperative that we hire a head coach who could not only sustain a legacy that Roy Kidd so successfully perpetuated for 39 glorious years, but also a head coach that could generate an aura of excitement on and off campus and take our football program to even greater glory and national prominence.

“We were also looking for a head coach who would recruit quality student-athletes into our program, treat them with the utmost respect and, working with his staff, do all he can to make them winners in the classroom, off the field and in life.

“Finally, we wanted a head coach who would represent this university at all times with great dignity and class and unshakable integrity.

“After a national search process that produced many outstanding candidates, I believe we have found a perfect match for Eastern Kentucky University...someone who brings all those qualities to this important job. That man is Danny Hope.”

Jack Lengyel, EKU interim director of athletics who directed the screening process, which included more than 50 candidates, echoed the thoughts of President Glasser.

“Danny Hope brings a wealth of successful Division I-A college football coaching and recruiting experience to EKU,” said Lengyel. “He is tremendously organized and has a plan for the continued success of EKU football.

“Having played on our national championship teams and graduating from EKU, it is like the line in “The Music Man”...‘he knows the territory’.

Hope, a native of Miami, FL, came to Eastern Kentucky in 1977 from Killian High School. He was a four-year starter at Eastern Kentucky, was a member of the 1979 NCAA Division I-AA national championship squad and closed his collegiate playing career in 1980 by starting for Eastern’s national runner-up team.

Hope, who graduated in 1981 from EKU with a bachelors degree in psychology, has served as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville (1988-94, 2002-Present), Purdue University (1997-2001), the University of Wyoming (1996) and the University of Oklahoma (1995) where he was an integral part of many championship seasons working for some of the top head coaches in the game.

In addition to coaching and recruiting major college football players in conferences such as the Big Ten, the WAC, the Big 12, Conference USA and major independents, Hope has coached in seven Bowl games, including the Rose Bowl, the Sun Bowl, the Alamo Bowl (twice), the Outback Bowl, the St. Jude Liberty Bowl and the Sunkist Fiesta Bowl.

He lists as two of his teams’ most memorable wins those of Louisville’s 34-7 defeat of Alabama in the 1990 Fiesta Bowl and this season’s U of L’s 26-20 victory over then fourth-ranked Florida State.

While being named as one of the Nation’s Top Recruiters by Tom Lemming, ESPN Recruiting Analyst and Editor of Prep Football Report, Hope recruited Atlanta Falcon defensive back Ray Buchanan to U of L in the late 1980's and has coached other NFL stars such as Bruce Armstrong (New England Patriots), Matt Light (New England Patriots), Roman Oben (Cleveland Browns), Mark Fischer (Washington Redskins) and Chukky Okobi (Pittsburgh Steelers) during his stellar collegiate coaching career.

Before spending two seasons (1985-86) at the University of Louisville as a graduate assistant coach for coach Howard Schnellenberger’s Cardinals, Hope spent four seasons (1981-84) at Manatee High School in Bradenton, FL, where he was the varsity offensive line coach, head football strength coach and powerlifting coach. The 1983 Manatee High School team went 14-0 and was the Florida Class 4A State Champion.

Hope replaces his former mentor, Roy Kidd, who retired at the end of the 2002 season after finishing his 39-year EKU head-coaching career in sixth place on the all-time NCAA Division I-A and I-AA coaches win list with 315. His final record at EKU, which included two I-AA national titles, two I-AA national runners-up crowns and 16 Ohio Valley Conference championships, was 315-123-8.

Hope and his wife, Sally, have one son, Chaz (age 13).


THE HOPE FILE

EDUCATION
B.S., Eastern Kentucky University, 1981, Richmond, Ky.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line -- 2002-Present

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Offensive Line Coach -- 1997-2001

University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming
Offensive Line Coach -- 1996

University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
Offensive Line Coach -- 1995

University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
Offensive Line/Special Teams Asst. -- 1988-1994
Tight End/Offensive Line Coach -- 1987
Graduate Assistant -- 1985-1986

Manatee High School, Bradenton, Florida
Varsity Offensive Line Coach, Head Football
Strength Coach, Powerlifting Coach -- 1981-1985

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
2002
September 26, 2002 - Louisville 26, Florida State 20

2001
December 31, 2001 -- Sun Bowl -- Purdue 27, Washington State 33

2000
January 1, 2001 -- Rose Bowl -- Purdue 24, Washington 34
Ranked #13 in AP Poll

1999
January 1, 2000 -- Outback Bowl -- Purdue 25, Georgia 28
Ranked 8th Nationally in total offense
Ranked # 25 in AP Poll

1998
Alamo Bowl Champions -- Purdue 37, #3 Kansas State 34
Ranked 16th nationally in total offense
Ranked #23 in AP Poll

1997
Alamo Bowl Champions -- Purdue 33, Oklahoma State 20
Ranked 7th nationally in total offense
Ranked #15 in AP Poll

1996
WAC Pacific Division Champions
Ranked #3 nationally in total offense
Ranked #22 in AP Poll

1993
St. Jude Liberty Bowl Champions -- Louisville 18, Michigan State 7

1990
Sunkist Fiesta Bowl Champions -- Louisville 34, Alabama 7
Ranked #13 in AP Poll

1983
Florida Class 4A State Champions
Manatee High School 14-0

1993, 2000
Named as one of Nation’s Top Recruiters by Tom Lemming, ESPN Recruiting Analyst, Editor of Prep Football Report

2000
Averaged one sack per 61 throws

TOP PLAYERS COACHED
Bruce Armstrong -- New England Patriots -- 1st Round (1986)
Matt Light -- New England Patriots -- 2nd Round (2001)
Roman Oben -- Cleveland Browns -- 2nd Round (1996)
Mark Fischer -- Washington Redskins -- 4th Round (1998)
Chukky Okobi -- Pittsburgh Steelers -- 5th Round (2001)

TOP PLAYER RECRUITED
Ray Buchanon -- Atlanta Falcons -- 2nd Round (1992)

RECRUITING AREAS
Kentucky
Indiana
Texas (Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex)
Illinois (Chicago and Surrounding Area)
Florida (Gulf Coast/ Miami)
Mississippi (Junior Colleges)