He was most recently the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the South Florida Bulls football team before stepping down after one season for family reasons.

The team went to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, where they defeated Western Michigan, 37–32, to achieve Hope's first winning season at Purdue.

[3] The 2012 season was met with high expectations from fans, alumni, and Hope himself, who proclaimed that it would be his best team with many starters returning.

However, after a 3–1 non-conference start fueled by three wins against lower-tier competition, the team opened Big Ten play with five straight losses.

Although the Boilers eventually won their final three games, including victories over archrivals IU and Illinois, and become bowl-eligible for the second straight year, athletic director Morgan Burke announced on November 25, 2012, that Hope would be fired.