Purdue defensive line coach Terrell Williams is leaving his post to join Texas A&M's staff, Purdue confirmed Monday morning.

An official announcement from Texas A&M is expected soon.

Williams spent the past four seasons with the Boilermakers, coaching the entire D-line in 2006, 2007 and 2009, and only the defensive ends in 2008. He has overseen the development of standout linemen like Anthony Spencer, Cliff Avril, Alex Magee and, most recently, Ryan Kerrigan and Mike Neal.

It's obviously not ideal to lose a position coach so late in hiring season -- and so close to national signing day -- and head coach Danny Hope has an important decision in front of him. Williams, like every Purdue assistant, helped recruit the state of Florida. He wasn't the primary recruiter for defensive end commit Bruce Gaston, though Gaston praised Williams for his role in the recruiting process.

Purdue's next D-line coach will inherit one of the Big Ten's top pass-rushers in Kerrigan, as well as promising young players like Gerald Gooden and Kawann Short. The new coach's primary task will be finding ways to improve the Boilers' run defense, which has ranked last in the Big Ten in each of the past two seasons.