Purkey joins the Hoyas after spending the 2024 season as the defensive backs coach at Muhlenberg College. Prior to coaching the Mules, Purkey spent five years as the linebackers coach at Bridgewater College, where he also served as special teams coordinator for two seasons and defensive coordinator in the spring of 2024. During his time there, he coached six All-America selections and an NCAA Division III statistical champion in kickoff returns.
Bridgewater allowed an average of only 18.8 points per game during Purkey's tenure and ranked among the Division III leaders in takeaways in both 2022 and 2023. He helped lead the Eagles to an Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship, national ranking and NCAA Tournament home game in 2019.
Prior to Bridgewater, Purkey spent one season as special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Maine Maritime Academy and one as defensive/special teams quality control assistant with his alma mater, James Madison University, helping the Dukes reach the 2017 FCS national championship game.
Purkey was an assistant coach at McDaniel College from 2015 through the spring of 2017, starting as running backs coach and ending as special teams coordinator/linebackers coach. He was also the assistant special teams coordinator/intern wide receivers coach with JMU in 2014 and an assistant wide receivers coach at Stevenson University in 2013.
Purkey graduated from JMU in 2013 with a degree in kinesiology and a minor in coaching education. He completed his master’s degree in exercise science and physical education at McDaniel.Â
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