Jerry Kill Retired As Minnesota Head Coach
By Ty Duffy
Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach Jerry Kill is retiring effective immediately due to health reasons. Kill, 54, has fought a public battle with epilepsy. He suffered seizures on the sidelines in both 2012 and 2013. Kill suffered two seizures yesterday before practice.
Kill’s longtime defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys will take control of the team on an interim basis.
He addressed his retirement at a press conference.
Kill: “I still want to coach. I was at practice yesterday after having two seizures. I probably wasn’t supposed to be there."
— CoachingSearch.com (@coachingsearch) October 28, 2015
Kill: “I’ve taken years off my life and (my wife’s), but we’d both do it again, wouldn’t we? Damn right."
— CoachingSearch.com (@coachingsearch) October 28, 2015
Jerry Kill's final words of advice: "You don't have your health, you don't have God, you ain't gonna make it."
— Chad Leistikow (@ChadLeistikow) October 28, 2015
Kill led Minnesota to three-straight bowl games. The Golden Gophers, 4-3, are coming off consecutive 8-win seasons. Minnesota will be at least the third Big Ten team, along with Illinois and Maryland, with a new head coach in 2016.