The last any of us saw or heard from Jerry Kill, it was his gut-wrenching, tear-inducing retirement press conference back in October. We would see him again sometime in an official capacity for Minnesota, but no one knew how or when that would happen. Those details would be worked out in time.
“In time” around, and the details were never worked out.
According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Kill and Minnesota are parting ways after the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on what the Gophers’ former head coach’s role would be.
“I visited with the president, and it was very professional in manner,” Kill told the paper. “He would like me to speak on behalf of the university, raise money and teach a class or two. I really appreciate that offer, but I want to be involved with athletics. I’ve been involved with athletics my whole life, and I want to be around the kids more than anything.
“That wasn’t part of the offer. I understand that, but that was the deal-breaker for me.”
Which, from the university’s perspective, makes sense. Kill would undoubtedly like to still be involved with the football team -- he’d still be the head coach if not for the health concerns that forced him out in the first place -- and that would make the job Tracy Claeys, a longtime Kill assistant, has in front of him that much more difficult.
Simply put, it would be quite difficult for the new boss to convince his charges he was indeed the new boss if the old boss kept popping his head in the door.
So now the two sides have parted ways -- the Kills left Minneapolis for their home in Carbondale, Ill., last month, the paper reports -- but Kill insists it was an amicable split.
“I love the university,” Kill said. “I’ll always be a Gopher. If the university needs my help, I’m a phone call away.”