The Kansas State Wildcats announced they have hired former Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill as associate athletic director.
Kill resigned halfway through the 2015 season due to health concerns, and he said at the time he wasn't sure what he was going to do next. He will act as chief administrator for the K-State football team in his new role working directly under AD John Currie, but Kill made it clear that he will not coach.
“Here’s the thing I want to clear up real quick: I cannot ever be a head coach,” Kill said. “That is just the way my life is going to be and I am very understanding of that. My next journey is this journey. My way of being part of student-athletes and part of a football program is just this, mentoring people. I even checked it out with my doctor before I got this far. I have to live a little different life than I did before, and I am OK with it. I am going to do what John asks me to do.
“I had the opportunity to do some things differently. It has helped me out a lot. It’s the best I have felt in 12 years. I am actually sleeping good and dropped about 14 or 15 pounds. I am on a special diet for seizure patients. I am doing great, and, believe me, I know when I wasn’t doing great and when I am. I know my coaching career is over and I understand that, but I can’t just sit around and look at a lake and roll my fingers. I would be in the worst health I could ever imagine. John certainly understands. I am looking forward to working there and I will do just fine.”
While the normal role of associate athletic director normally revolves around administrative duties, Kill's job revolves entirely around football. Currie said he asked head coach Bill Snyder about hiring Kill, and Snyder was "excited" about the idea.
“We have a good relationship,” Kill said about Snyder. “He is old school and I am old school. You’ve got two old-school guys together with good people that he has got. The bottom line is our jobs all work together to make K-State continue to get better and better.”
Kill served as Minnesota's head coach for five seasons, posting a 29-29 record. In all, he has 32 years of coaching experience.
Back to the Kansas State Wildcats Newsfeed