Jake Leonard 
It is often unusual when news emerges surrounding those who participated in the first generation of the XFL nearly 22 years ago. However, for one former player in the 2001 launch of the league, headlines are being made. Jeff Brohm, who has been coaching football at Purdue University, is returning to his alma mater at the University of Louisville to coach the Cardinals.
Brohm, who went undrafted in 1994, was a journeyman QB bouncing around the league. Between 1994 and 2000, Brohm made only eight game appearances, throwing for 353 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
He would become the fourth overall pick in the 2001 XFL Draft, a selection by the Orlando Rage. In seven games with the Rage, Brohm threw for 993 yards, 9 TDs, and a league-leading 99.9 pass rating. He became known for his sideline interview after getting injured during the XFL season. He would retire as a player during that season.
Brohm and his post-player resume
Brohm’s first non-player role came in 2002, coaching the Louisville Fire, a developmental team for Arena Football in AF2. He earned a dismal record of 2-14 in that season.
He became a coach at Louisville, handling several offensive coaching roles between 2003 and 2008. In 2008, he was both an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator before getting hired by Florida Atlantic University as a QB coach in 2009.
Brohm’s stay in Boca Raton was short-lived, as he made the move to Champaign/Urbana one year later to become QB coach for the Fighting Illini. He held the position with the Illini for two seasons.
In 2012, Brohm served a one-year offensive stint with the University of Alabama Birmingham as offensive coordinator and QB coach.
In 2013, Western Kentucky hired Brohm as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and QB coach. He was elevated to head coach one year later.
During his stint at Western Kentucky, the Hilltoppers won the Conference USA Eastern Division championship and the Conference USA Championship in back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016.
Prior to Louisville hiring Brohm on December 7, he has been head coach of the Boilermakers, winning two of three bowl games and most recently the Big Ten Western Division championship.
His brother Brian Brohm, who has worked alongside Jeff since Western Kentucky, is the interim head coach at Purdue. Brian, who also graduated from Louisville, played three seasons in the NFL, two seasons in the United Football League, and three seasons in the CFL.
