- Purdue head football coach Jeff Brohm tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.
- The school is awaiting the results of a secondary test to confirm the positive result.
- The coach is in isolation at home.
Another day, another college football coach testing positive for COVID-19. On Sunday, it was Purdue Boilermakers head football coach Jeff Brohm that is now ‘presumed positive’ after his daily COVID-19 antigen test came back positive. The coach has taken a PCR test in order to confirm the prior positive result.
The Purdue athletic department released this statement announcing Brohm’s positive test result:
“During Purdue’s daily COVID-19 testing on Sunday, Oct. 18, head football coach Jeff Brohm returned a presumed positive result via an antigen test, we are awaiting confirmation via a PCR test. He informed his staff and the team this afternoon and is currently at home in isolation.”
If Brohm’s test result is confirmed it is especially bad timing for Purdue. They’re now just six days away from the start of their season with the opening game set for October 24 against Iowa. It’s been a tough weekend for coaches and COVID-19. First it was Alabama head coach Nick Saban announcing a positive test late last week. Fortunately, after three straight negative test results he was able to return to the sideline for Alabama’s thrashing of Georgia on Saturday night. Florida head coach Dan Mullen has also tested positive for COVID-19 but he catches a break as the Gators won’t play again until October 31 against Missouri.
For now, all Brohm and Purdue can do is wait. Big Ten student athletes who test positive for COVID-19 are required to be held out for 21 days. Coaches, however, follow CDC guidelines that call for 10 days of isolation. After those 10 days, the coach can return to work if they have been symptom-free for 24 hours.
Secondary test results and an update on Brohm’s status are expected on Monday.
