SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State football coach Bobby Petrino has formally announced Max Halpin as the new offensive line coach for the Bears.
 
Halpin comes to Missouri State after spending the last three years at Purdue University where he assisted offensive line coach Dale Williams in all aspects of the Boilermakers offensive front.
 
"It's great to have Max at Missouri State," said Petrino of his new assistant coach. "He played center in this offense and played for me as a freshman at Western Kentucky. His knowledge and ability to motivate young men will really help our program."
 
Halpin also played for Williams and current Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm at Western Kentucky where he was a first-team all-conference center for the Hilltoppers in 2016. The 2016 WKU front five were ranked as the No. 4 offensive line in the country, according to Pro Football Focus, and led an offense that ranked No. 1 in points per game (45.5) and No. 5 in yards per game (523.1) among all NCAA FBS schools.
 
Halpin spent 2012-16 at WKU and advanced from a walk-on to one of the program's most prolific players while helping the Hilltoppers win back-to-back Conference USA championships during his tenure. He was on the Rimington Trophy Watch List, awarded to college football's top center, in both 2015 and 2016, and was a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy in 2016, given to the best Division I player who started his career as a walk on.
 
Originally from Fort Mitchell, Ky., Halpin earned his degree in Business Administration from WKU in 2016 and later completed his masters in Technology Leadership and Innovation from Purdue in 2020.
 
He was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at Covington Catholic High School and earned all-state honorable mention laurels his senior season. He was also selected as the starting center for the Kentucky Best of the Bluegrass All-Star game.
 
Halpin's hire was made official Wednesday and is contingent upon formal approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors at its next scheduled meeting.