Seven months after health issues forced him to step away from the game, Jerry Kill has stepped back in. Sort of.
In a release Tuesday morning, Kansas State athletic director John Currie announced that Kill has been named as the associate athletic director for administration at the university. The school writes that Kill’s role will consist of being “a member of Currie’s senior departmental staff and serve as chief administrator for the K-State football program.”
In October of last season, Kill was forced to step down as Minnesota’s head football coach because of health issues related to ongoing epileptic seizures. It was thought that Kill would remain at Minnesota in some type of role, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement and they parted ways in February.
In four-plus seasons with the Gophers, Kill went 29-29. However, that record was 20-13 over the past two-plus years. For his entire 22-year coaching career that included stops at Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Emporia State and Saginaw Valley State, Kill sports a lifetime record of 152-99.
While some could view this as a potential move ahead of replacing the 76-year-old Bill Snyder as the Wildcats head coach, Brett McMurphy of ESPN.com writes that “Kill’s position at K-State is not a coach in waiting.”
Kill is a Kansas native who graduated from Southwestern (Kan.) College in 1983. Below are quotes distributed by the school regarding Kill’s new position.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JOHN CURRIE
“We are thrilled that Jerry and Rebecca are coming home to join the K-State family. He is ready to move into a new chapter of his life and professional career, and his experience as a former head coach will be a terrific addition to our staff. We look forward to the perspective and mentoring he will provide our coaches and student-athletes as we continue toward our vision of a Model Intercollegiate Athletics Program.”
HEAD COACH BILL SNYDER
"[Son and K-State assistant coach] Sean [Snyder] and I have spent a great deal of time with Jerry and Rebecca and feel as though they will be a solid addition to our Kansas State and community family. Both are down to earth, caring people who fit well in this culture. Jerry’s health issues have precluded him from coaching again, but his passion for athletics and young people make this a positive step for his future career.”
JERRY KILL
“Rebecca and I couldn’t be happier to return home to the state of Kansas and join the K-State Athletics family and Manhattan community. I want to make it known that my coaching days are over, and I am excited to start this next phase as an administrator for one of the finest athletics departments in the country. Mentoring has always been very important to me, and I am thrilled to work in support of Hall of Fame Coach Bill Snyder and the football program and learn more about the administrative side of college athletics under John and the rest of the first-class staff at K-State.”