NOBLESVILLE, IN — Former Purdue University football coach Ryan Walters wasn't known for winning here during his two-year stint on the gridiron, but he won this week in a court of law.

After he was hired as head coach in 2023, Ryan and Tara Walters' planned to build a home near Jackson Highway and Tippecanoe County Road 400 West on 5 acres of land they bought in February 2023 for $235,000, according to court documents and property records. The Walterses started working on that construction project with Steve Schrader Homes.

The Walterses and Schrader had a falling-out over the project, and Schrader did not build the house. He did, however, file a lawsuit in June 2024 to recover money he believed the couple owed him, according to the court ruling on the case signed Tuesday, Feb. 26.

The Journal & Courier has left voicemails for Schrader requesting a comment. The J&C has also attempted to reach Ryan Walters, who is the current defensive coordinator for the University of Washington.

"Coach Walters won’t have any comment on this private matter," said Jeff Bechthold, assistant athletic director for communications at University of Washington.

"Ryan (Walters) testified he was shocked by the $4.5 million estimate as Schrader had been adamant that the home would not cost more than $3 million," the judge wrote. Early issues were the cost of custom cabinets and the builder's percentage fee, which the Walterses believed were too high.

"Schrader believes he is entitled to receive the entire amount of his management fee and profit, exceeding $377,000, even though he did not build the home or incur the costs under the contract," Hamilton Superior 2 Judge Jonathan M. Brown wrote.

The court held a two-day bench trial on non-consecutive days in July. Brown published his ruling this week.

"The Walterses are claiming damages against Schrader for failure to return the $12,133.44 they had tendered to Schrader for pre-construction issues that Schrader had not used," Brown wrote.

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"The record demonstrates the breakdown of the relationship between the parties was not a product of defiance, but of two parties moving forward under different understandings," Brown wrote in his ruling.

Brown ruled that the contract between Schrader and the Walterses was not valid or enforceable.

"The bottom line is that the Walterses had expectations based upon statements by Schrader that he could build the home they wanted within a certain price range, but the bid process proved that Schrader could not deliver," Brown wrote. Details of the home included a basketball court, a golf simulator and pool.

The ruling ordered Schrader Homes to return $6,560.79 to the Walterses within 30 days.

The home was built on the property, but not by Schrader. The house and 5 acres sold Aug. 28, 2025, for $4.2 million, according to county property records.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Former Purdue football coach Ryan Walters wins lawsuit over $4.5M home