Jerry Kill
Encyclopedia
Jerry Kill is the head football
coach
at the University of Minnesota
. Before assuming this position with the Golden Gophers in December 2010, Kill served as the head coach at Saginaw Valley State University
(1994–1998), Emporia State University
(1999–2000), Southern Illinois University Carbondale
(2001–2007), and Northern Illinois University
(2008–2010). Kill played college football
at Southwestern College
in Winfield, Kansas
from 1979 to 1982.
. He was raised in a "working class family" and became the first member of his family to graduate from college.
He earned a bachelor's degree
in education with a minor in biology
from Southwestern College
in 1983. At Southwestern, he played football under Phil Hower and Dennis Franchione
.
in 1994, where he produced five consecutive winning seasons, including back-to-back 9–2 campaigns in 1997 and 1998. Kill compiled a 38–14 record in five years as head coach. His teams led the NCAA
's Division II in rushing each of his last two years and his last season was second in the nation in total offense (498.3) and scoring (42.5).
He is ranked third at Saginaw Valley State in total wins and second in winning percentage (as of the 2007 season).
in Emporia, Kansas
, and held that position for two seasons, from 1999 until 2000. His overall coaching record at Emporia State was 11–11. As of completion of the 2007 season, this ranked him tenth at Emporia State in total wins and ninth in winning percentage.
in 2001. In 2004, Kill's Salukis
went a perfect 9–0 against Division I-AA opponents and outscored competitors by more than 30 points per game. Southern Illinois finished 7–0 in Gateway Football Conference games, earned the #1 ranking for the final ten weeks of the year, and garnered the top seed in the 2004 postseason.
At Southern Illinois, Kill was the first coach to produce four consecutive winning seasons and is credited with turning the football team around to a winning program. On September 26, 2006, he became the school's all-time leader in winning percentage after a "pounding" of Indiana State
, 55–3.
in DeKalb
, announced that Kill had been hired as its new head coach. He replaced Joe Novak
, who retired after developing the Huskies into a successful program over 12 seasons, though just one bowl win. Before his first season at Northern Illinois began, his team was ranked #6 in ESPN's Bottom 10
. The team finished the 2008 regular season with a 6–6 record. The six wins secured bowl eligibility and an invitation to the Independence Bowl
was accepted. Northern Illinois was defeated by Louisiana Tech
, 17–10, in the bowl game despite outgaining the Bulldogs in rushing and passing yardage.
Northern Illinois had a nine-game win streak and reached the Mid-American Conference championship game. They finished 10-3 under Kill.
Following a loss to Miami
in the MAC Championship Game
in December 2010, Kill accepted the position of head coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers
. His announcement came less than two weeks before the Huskies were scheduled to play in the Humanitarian Bowl
. Leaving the team in the manner he did (many teammates learned about his new job via Twitter
instead of from Kill himself) dealt an emotional blow to the members of the team; quarterback Chandler Harnish saying about Kill's departure, "I have a horrible taste in my mouth". Additionally, besides the emotional impact, USA Today
noted "The timing of the announcement further hurts the program due to Kill most likely taking the bulk of his staff to Minnesota."
The fact that Kill left NIU before the team's bowl game added fuel to the debate about whether or not the NCAA should prohibit coaches from abandoning their teams before their final bowl game.
, defensive coordinator
, and special teams coordinator.
, currently the head football coach at Texas Christian University
. Both men played football for Dennis Franchione
and each worked for him as assistant coaches. Kill served as the best man in Patterson's wedding.
Kill suffered a series of seizure
s, including one on the sidelines in the waning seconds of a home loss to Illinois State on October 15, 2005. Subsequently, Kill was diagnosed with kidney cancer
, which is now in remission. Kill has since started the Coach Kill Cancer Fund foundation to assist low-income southern Illinois
residents with treatment.
On September 11, 2010, Kill was hospitalized for dehydration hours after a 23–17 win over North Dakota
. One year later, on September 10, 2011, Kill was rushed to the hospital after suffering yet another seizure and collapsing on the sidelines, this time during the final seconds of Minnesota's loss to New Mexico State
. On September 25, 2011, Kill was admitted to the Mayo Clinic
after suffering another seizure.
Kill is a nominee for the 2011 Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Award, presented by Uplifting Athletes
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. Before assuming this position with the Golden Gophers in December 2010, Kill served as the head coach at Saginaw Valley State University
Saginaw Valley State University
Saginaw Valley State University, commonly known as SVSU, is a state university in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in the middle of Michigan's lower peninsula in the Saginaw Valley region. The university is located in Kochville Township, Saginaw County...
(1994–1998), Emporia State University
Emporia State University
Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...
(1999–2000), Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system...
(2001–2007), and Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
(2008–2010). Kill played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Southwestern College
Southwestern College (Kansas)
Southwestern College is a four-year private college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Winfield, Kansas, United States. It was founded in 1885 and graduated its first class in 1889. In addition to its campus programs, it offers online programs.-Academics:The main campus is a...
in Winfield, Kansas
Winfield, Kansas
Winfield is a city situated along the Walnut River in the west-central part of Cowley County, located in South Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,301...
from 1979 to 1982.
Early life and playing career
Kill was born in Cheney, KansasCheney, Kansas
Cheney is a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,094.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Cheney has a total area of , all of it land.-Area attractions:...
. He was raised in a "working class family" and became the first member of his family to graduate from college.
He earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in education with a minor in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
from Southwestern College
Southwestern College (Kansas)
Southwestern College is a four-year private college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Winfield, Kansas, United States. It was founded in 1885 and graduated its first class in 1889. In addition to its campus programs, it offers online programs.-Academics:The main campus is a...
in 1983. At Southwestern, he played football under Phil Hower and Dennis Franchione
Dennis Franchione
Dennis Wayne Franchione , also known as Coach Fran, is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Texas State University, a position he held from 1990 to 1991, when the school was known as Southwest Texas State University, and resumed in 2011...
.
Saginaw Valley State
Kill landed his first head coaching job as the fourth football coach at Saginaw Valley State UniversitySaginaw Valley State University
Saginaw Valley State University, commonly known as SVSU, is a state university in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in the middle of Michigan's lower peninsula in the Saginaw Valley region. The university is located in Kochville Township, Saginaw County...
in 1994, where he produced five consecutive winning seasons, including back-to-back 9–2 campaigns in 1997 and 1998. Kill compiled a 38–14 record in five years as head coach. His teams led the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
's Division II in rushing each of his last two years and his last season was second in the nation in total offense (498.3) and scoring (42.5).
He is ranked third at Saginaw Valley State in total wins and second in winning percentage (as of the 2007 season).
Emporia State
Kill was the 20th head football coach for Emporia State UniversityEmporia State University
Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...
in Emporia, Kansas
Emporia, Kansas
Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,916. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 and 35 on the Kansas Turnpike...
, and held that position for two seasons, from 1999 until 2000. His overall coaching record at Emporia State was 11–11. As of completion of the 2007 season, this ranked him tenth at Emporia State in total wins and ninth in winning percentage.
Southern Illinois
Kill was named to the head coaching post at Southern Illinois University CarbondaleSouthern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system...
in 2001. In 2004, Kill's Salukis
Southern Illinois Salukis football
The Southern Illinois Salukis football team represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale in football. The Salukis are a member of the NCAA and compete at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level...
went a perfect 9–0 against Division I-AA opponents and outscored competitors by more than 30 points per game. Southern Illinois finished 7–0 in Gateway Football Conference games, earned the #1 ranking for the final ten weeks of the year, and garnered the top seed in the 2004 postseason.
At Southern Illinois, Kill was the first coach to produce four consecutive winning seasons and is credited with turning the football team around to a winning program. On September 26, 2006, he became the school's all-time leader in winning percentage after a "pounding" of Indiana State
Indiana State Sycamores football
The Indiana State Sycamores football team is the NCAA Division I men's football program of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Playoffs in the 1984 NCAA Division I Football...
, 55–3.
Northern Illinois
In December 2007, Northern Illinois UniversityNorthern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
in DeKalb
DeKalb, Illinois
DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 at the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated German war hero Johann De Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War....
, announced that Kill had been hired as its new head coach. He replaced Joe Novak
Joe Novak
-External links:*...
, who retired after developing the Huskies into a successful program over 12 seasons, though just one bowl win. Before his first season at Northern Illinois began, his team was ranked #6 in ESPN's Bottom 10
Bottom 10
The Bottom 10 is a week-by-week regular season "ranking" of the worst ten college football teams in the NCAA Division I FBS. ESPN.con writer Mark Schlabach writes the column each week and is the sole determiner of the teams which are listed.One of the running gags of the Bottom 10 is the "highly...
. The team finished the 2008 regular season with a 6–6 record. The six wins secured bowl eligibility and an invitation to the Independence Bowl
2008 Independence Bowl
The 2008 Independence Bowl marked the thirty-third edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. The game was contested starting on Sunday, December 28, 2008, with a 7:15 PM US CST kickoff, telecast on ESPN. the contest pitted the...
was accepted. Northern Illinois was defeated by Louisiana Tech
2008 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team
The 2008 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team represents Louisiana Tech University in the college football season of 2008. LA Tech competes in the Western Athletic Conference and plays their home games at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, LA. The team is coached by Derek Dooley, who is in his second...
, 17–10, in the bowl game despite outgaining the Bulldogs in rushing and passing yardage.
Northern Illinois had a nine-game win streak and reached the Mid-American Conference championship game. They finished 10-3 under Kill.
Following a loss to Miami
2010 Miami RedHawks football team
The 2010 Miami RedHawks football team represented Miami University during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The RedHawks, led by second-year head coach Michael Haywood and interim head coach Lance Guidry during their bowl game, competed in the East Division of the Mid-American...
in the MAC Championship Game
2010 MAC Championship Game
The 2010 MAC Championship Game was played at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 3, 2010, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan to determine the 2010 football champion of the Mid-American Conference...
in December 2010, Kill accepted the position of head coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. His announcement came less than two weeks before the Huskies were scheduled to play in the Humanitarian Bowl
2010 Humanitarian Bowl
The 2010 Humanitarian Bowl was the fourteenth edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho, on the campus of Boise State University. The game started at 3:30 pm MST on Saturday, December 18, 2010 and was telecast on ESPN...
. Leaving the team in the manner he did (many teammates learned about his new job via Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
instead of from Kill himself) dealt an emotional blow to the members of the team; quarterback Chandler Harnish saying about Kill's departure, "I have a horrible taste in my mouth". Additionally, besides the emotional impact, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
noted "The timing of the announcement further hurts the program due to Kill most likely taking the bulk of his staff to Minnesota."
The fact that Kill left NIU before the team's bowl game added fuel to the debate about whether or not the NCAA should prohibit coaches from abandoning their teams before their final bowl game.
Minnesota
Kill brought much of NIU staff with him to Minnesota, including his offensive coordinatorOffensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
, defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
, and special teams coordinator.
Personal life, health, and charity work
Kill is close friends with Gary PattersonGary Patterson
Gary Patterson is the head coach of the TCU Horned Frogs college football team. He grew up in Rozel, Kansas and played football at Dodge City Community College and Kansas State University. Patterson is married to Kelsey Patterson . He has three sons: Josh, Cade and Blake...
, currently the head football coach at Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
. Both men played football for Dennis Franchione
Dennis Franchione
Dennis Wayne Franchione , also known as Coach Fran, is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Texas State University, a position he held from 1990 to 1991, when the school was known as Southwest Texas State University, and resumed in 2011...
and each worked for him as assistant coaches. Kill served as the best man in Patterson's wedding.
Kill suffered a series of seizure
Seizure
An epileptic seizure, occasionally referred to as a fit, is defined as a transient symptom of "abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain". The outward effect can be as dramatic as a wild thrashing movement or as mild as a brief loss of awareness...
s, including one on the sidelines in the waning seconds of a home loss to Illinois State on October 15, 2005. Subsequently, Kill was diagnosed with kidney cancer
Kidney cancer
Kidney cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cells in the kidney.The two most common types of kidney cancer are renal cell carcinoma and urothelial cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis...
, which is now in remission. Kill has since started the Coach Kill Cancer Fund foundation to assist low-income southern Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
residents with treatment.
On September 11, 2010, Kill was hospitalized for dehydration hours after a 23–17 win over North Dakota
North Dakota Fighting Sioux football
The North Dakota Fighting Sioux are a college football program that competes in the Great West Conference in the NCAA Division I's Football Championship Subdivision...
. One year later, on September 10, 2011, Kill was rushed to the hospital after suffering yet another seizure and collapsing on the sidelines, this time during the final seconds of Minnesota's loss to New Mexico State
2011 New Mexico State Aggies football team
The 2011 New Mexico State Aggies football team represents New Mexico State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aggies will be led by third year head coach DeWayne Walker and will play their home games at Aggie Memorial Stadium. They are members of the Western Athletic...
. On September 25, 2011, Kill was admitted to the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
after suffering another seizure.
Kill is a nominee for the 2011 Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Award, presented by Uplifting Athletes
Uplifting athletes
Uplifting Athletes is a non-profit organization of current American college football players, benefiting those with rare diseases. The group was established in 2003 and is a 5013....
.