Minnesota Gophers: Jerry Kill retires due to health concerns
On Wednesday morning, several reports suggested that Minnesota Gophers head football coach Jerry Kill is retiring due to health issues. Later in the morning, Kill held a press conference and announced it himself.
According to this article from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, an emotional Kill told the media that he had endured two seizures this week and that he hadn’t slept more than three hours any night the past three weeks. The toll on his body, mind, and family had become too much.
Kill, 54, overcame kidney cancer in 2005 and is currently dealing with epilepsy.
“I don’t have any more energy. None,” Kill said to the media during his Wednesday press conference. “I’ve left it all here in the great state of Minnesota. And I have no regrets.”
Kill missed game action during the 2013 season due to seizures that had flared up. Associate head coach Tracy Claeys took over in 2013 while Kill was absent, and he’ll do the same for the Gophers, effective immediately.
“I’ve given every ounce that I have for 32 years to the game of football,” Kill said, according to the Star-Tribine article, while losing the battle to fight back tears and stopping every few words to compose himself. “And the kids I’ve been able to coach. I never stole from anybody. I’m not going to steal now.”
This announcement comes just three days after the death of Minnesota Timberwolves president and head coach Flip Saunders was announced.
The Minnesota Gophers are slated to take on #15 ranked Michigan on Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium at 6:00 PM CST. The game is also being televised on ESPN.
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