Darrell Hazell will coach Kent State in GoDaddy.com Bowl

Despite the fact that he's leaving Kent State to become the head coach of the Purdue Boilermakers, Darrell Hazell will coach the Golden Flashes in the GoDaddy.com Bowl, when Kent State takes on Arkansas State, on Sunday, Jan. 6.

Hazell expressed interest in coaching Kent State in its first bowl game since 1972, when Kent State fell to Tampa in the Tangerine Bowl. Purdue granted Hazell permission to coach the game for Kent State early Wednesday morning, and the decision was made during Wednesday afternoon.

In just two years at Kent State, Hazell guided the Golden Flashes to a 5-7 record during his first season as a head coach in 2011, before improving to 11-2 in 2012. Kent State fell in the Mid-American Conference title game to Northern Illinois last Friday in double-overtime. Had Kent State managed to defeat Northern Illinois, it's likely that the Golden Flashes would be participating in the Orange Bowl.