Muskingum grad Darrell Hazell hired as NFL coach

MINNEAPOLIS – Muskingum University graduate Darrell Hazell has been hired to coach in the NFL.

Hazell has been hired as the wide receiver coach for the Minnesota Vikings, his first job in the NFL. Hazell had been the head coach at Purdue from 2013-’16, but was fired just six games into the 2016 season. In his time in West Lafayette, Hazzell won nine games and lost 33. Prior to that he was the head coach for two years at Kent State, wining MAC coach of the year honors in 2012.

Hazell will replace George Stewart, who left the Vikings to become the special teams coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. Among the wide outs he’ll coach in Minnesota are Stefon Diggs, Cordarrelle Patterson, Laquon Treadwell, and Adam Thielen.

Hazell played football at Muskingum from 1982-’85 and was a three time All-OAC wide receiver. He still holds several school records including receiving yards in a season (805), touchdown receptions in a season (12), and most touchdown receptions in a game (3).