In this off-season where it's been such an emphasis for Purdue to return to its long-standing principles, one of its modern era's top heart-and-soul figures is returning to the program.

After retiring from a successful career playing overseas earlier in the week, Kenneth Lowe has been appointed to an assistant video coordinator role on Coach Matt Painter's staff.

The move was a long time in the making, originated months ago when Painter and supervisor of basketball operations Elliot Bloom discussed potential opportunities with the former two-time Big Ten Defensive Player-of-the-Year.

"Elliot and Coach talked early in the summer to me about it and I've been talking to Coach the last few years and asking for his guidance and asking about any positions he might have for me," Lowe said Thursday evening. "It wouldn't have mattered what position, I'd have been ready for it. It was just the right timing right now."

Lowe, who most recently played in Finland, has always maintained a presence around Purdue, visiting in the summers and attending games when possible.

During those visits, he's tried to serve as a positive influence on Purdue's players, an influence he'd hope to continue to reinforce now that he'll be around permanently.

"I think I can," said Lowe, who'll work with video coordinator Nick Terruso . "Any time I've come back, I've tried to talk to these guys, not in an annoying way, but trying to give them some guidance, just a little help, just advice and some of the things that were passed down to me from Brian Cardinal and guys like that, Brandon Brantley, Porter (Roberts), Roy (Hairston) or Coach (Cuonzo) Martin.

"They always seemed to take a liking to me. All the things they told me, I've tried to tell the younger guys, and hopefully these younger guys will keep passing it down for generations."

In recent years, the Gary native has looked for opportunities to break into coaching. This would seem like a step in that direction, whether it be toward a position at Purdue or elsewhere.

"That's ideal, but this move for me is just about getting around the program again and doing whatever I can to help the program win," Lowe said. "You never know what's going to happen in life. But I want to be a college coach one day, so this is a great opportunity for me to come and try to learn from one of the best."

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