LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jeff Brohm is one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's two new football coaches. Along with Georgia Tech's Brent Key, they're both back at their alma maters, eager to provide a spark to middling programs now competing in a division-less league.

Brohm is reconnecting with Louisville after a lengthy absence.

He had spent three years at Western Kentucky (2014-16) and the past six at Purdue, including a nine-win season in 2021 and a trip to last year's Big Ten championship game. The former Cardinals quarterback (1989-93) still ranks among the program leaders in career touchdown passes, total offense and passing yards while having his No. 11 jersey honored by the program.

The coaching staff includes his brother Brian, another Cardinals former quarterback.

Jeff Brohm returned when Scott Satterfield left after a sometimes-bumpy tenure to take over at Cincinnati. The current Cardinals have checked out the tape from his playing days.

“I've seen several highlights of Coach Brohm when he played at Louisville,” offensive lineman Bryan Hudson said. “There's a lot of excitement, a lot of new energy around the building with him being back. It's been a lot of fun.”

That history is a strong selling point for Brohm. He knows the buzz that comes with his return to the program where he made his name as a college player. It was something he has gotten to chat a bit about with Key and Cristobal — also leading his former college program at Miami — since taking the job.

There is no doubt he feels a little extra pressure to avoid letting people down.

“I think it's beneficial that the fan base knows that I'm invested in the program myself, that it's going to mean something to me," Brohm said.

“I didn't have to come back, but I wanted to. And I wanted to help elevate the program the best I could," he added. "Because of that, there's excitement now. And of course, with that, you've got to build on that. ... So we've got to do our part."