Minnesota hires Jerry Kill as head football coach

(Photo: NIU.edu)

Minnesota wasted no time this off-season in finding its new head coach. The Gophers hired Northern Illinois--the 2010 MAC runner up--head coach Jerry Kill to replace interim head coach Jeff Horton, who filled in after Minnesota fired Tim Brewster. The Minneapolis Star Tribune had the story yesterday:

"Kill led the Huskies to a 34-23 victory over Minnesota on Sept. 25, en route to a 10-3 season that landed in the AP Top 25 for one week, until Friday's 26-21 loss to Miami of Ohio in the MAC Championship game. Kill has a 23-16 record at NIU, and led the Huskies to bowl games all three seasons, including the Humanitarian Bowl later this month."

The Trib report also said San Diego State's Brady Hoke, Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, Temple's Al Golden, Houston's Kevin Sumlin and Connecticut's Randy Edsall were also interviewed for the position. There are also contract payouts for both Kill (NIU) and the departed Brewster (UM) to deal with, but no one expects any problems there.

Penn State doesn't play Minnesota next season, as the Gophers will be in the "Other" Division of the Big Ten. But it's still news we thought you should know.

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