Sources: Purdue set to hire Kent State's Hazell

Kent State coach Darrell Hazell, who led the Golden Flashes to an 11-2 record this season, has been targeted as the top choice to replace Danny Hope at Purdue, sources told ESPN.

Kent State coach Darrell Hazell, who led the Golden Flashes to an 11-2 record this season, has accepted the job at Purdue, sources told ESPN.

Hazell will replace Danny Hope, who was fired after compiling a 22-27 record over four years with the Boilermakers.

Hazell, who compiled a 16-9 record in two seasons at Kent State, previously served as Ohio State's wide receivers coach from 2005 to 2010.

The Golden Flashes have a team meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning, sources told ESPN.

Purdue also interviewed Cincinnati's Butch Jones as a possible replacement for Hope, who was fired after going 23-27 in four seasons.

Hazell was named the Mid-American Conference's Coach of the Year after leading the Golden Flashes (11-2, 8-0 MAC) to their first winning season since 2001.

Kent State reached No. 17 in the BCS standings, the best in school history, before losing to Northern Illinois 44-37 in double overtime in the MAC Championship Game.

Kent State will play Arkansas State, whose own head coach, Gus Malzahn, has left for a job at Auburn, in the GoDaddy.com Bowl on Jan. 6 in Mobile, Ala.

Purdue (6-6) will play Oklahoma State in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on New Year's Day.