LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Brohm is back. The University of Louisville announced Jeff Brohm as its 24th football coach.
Brohm, who played for Howard Schnellenberger and was an assistant coach under Bobby Petrino, comes back to his alma mater, his hometown and his family as UofL’s new head coach.
Director of Athletics Josh Heird made the official announcement Thursday at Cardinal Stadium’s Angel’s Envy Bourbon Club. “We’re excited to welcome Head Coach Jeff Brohm and his family home to the University of Louisville,” Heird said.
The Brohm family is synonymous with Louisville. Jeff, his dad, Oscar and his brothers Greg and Brian, are all football letter winners at UofL. Oscar was a quarterback from 1966 to 1969, Greg was a wide receiver from 1989 to 1992, and Brian was also a quarterback from 2004 to 2007. Jeff’s sister, Kim, was inducted in to the Louisville Catholic Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
“My family and I are honored to return home to the University of Louisville, a place we love, which has been so influential in shaping me as a player, a coach and a man,” Brohm said. “I am extremely grateful and humbled that Dr. Gonzalez, Dr. Schatzel, Josh Heird and the ULAA Board believe that I am the right person to lead this football program. I promise relentless energy, effort, and hard work every single day on behalf of all our coaches, staff and student-athletes. Our goal is to compete for championships while also developing our student-athletes into true leaders on and off the field. These young men will make our university, our community, and our fan base proud to be Louisville Cardinals. This city means a great deal to me and my family. Louisville is who we are. Thank you all for welcoming us back home.”
The 51-year-old Louisville native earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1994. He and his wife, Jennifer, have a son, Brady, and a daughter, Brook.
Brohm, who took over the Purdue Boilermakers on Dec. 5, 2016, took the team to four bowl games and led them to the school’s first Big Ten West Divisional title in 2022. The Boilers lost to No. 2 Michigan in the title game, but earned a trip to the Citrus Bowl in Jan. 2023.
Gov. Andy Beshear also commented on Brohm’s hiring saying, “Today is a great day for the University of Louisville as Jeff Brohm is coming home to the Commonwealth. Britainy and I want to personally welcome his family and we know he will not only be a great coach, but also a great member of our Louisville and Kentucky community.”
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) also sent a statement welcoming Brohm to UofL. He said, “I couldn’t be happier to hear that my alma mater is bringing Jeff Brohm back to Louisville to head up the Cardinals football program. As a student-athlete at Trinity High School and the University of Louisville, Jeff impressed us all with his smart play, skill as a quarterback, and leadership on and off the field. Following a career in the NFL, he honed his coaching skills for more than two decades in Kentucky and around the country. Now, our hometown hero is coming back. I’m excited to join the Cardinal family in welcoming Coach Brohm home.”
Brohm’s No. 11 jersey is one of 26 honored by the UofL football program.
Meanwhile, while UofL was announcing Jeff's hiring, his former university, Purdue, announced his younger brother, Brian, is coaching the Boilermakers in the Citrus Bowl.
“Let me just explain something, some people think that sounds strange, but he’s a really talented coach and if his name wasn’t Brohm it wouldn’t be strange at all,” athletic director Mike Bobinski said. “Brian was really excited and it’s a great professional moment for him to put his mark on the program over the next few weeks.”
Mark Hagen, one of three co-defensive coordinators, will call the defense following the immediate departure of Ron English for Louisville, Bobinski said. English called the defensive signals and coached safeties.
Brian Brohm got his first chance as a head coach in October 2020 when he led the Boilermakers to a season-opening 24-20 victory over Iowa after Jeff Brohm tested positive for COVID-19. He returned to his play-calling duties when his older brother returned for Week 2.