He may not be a ‘podium’ guy, but Jerry Kill is right fit for TCU and Gary Patterson
Signs point toward TCU coach Gary Patterson formally announcing his coaching staff changes in the coming days.
Sources confirmed that veteran head coach Jerry Kill is expected to join the program as a special assistant to Patterson, overseeing the offensive side of the ball.
Other hires include Doug Meacham rejoining the staff, as well as Bryan Applewhite to round out the 10 on-field assistant positions with Curtis Luper and Chris Thomsen departing this off-season.
None of those names may be considered “splash” hires or make national headlines such as Auburn hiring former Arkansas coach Chad Morris as its offensive coordinator or Oregon reportedly bringing in former Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead.
For Patterson, though, it’s not about winning the “podium” in the off-season. Most didn’t know much about Sonny Cumbie or Doug Meacham when Patterson hired them before the 2014 season, and TCU went on to contend for the College Football Playoff.
Both are native Kansans and Dennis Franchione disciples, although neither have worked on the same staff until now.
Kill, who was born in Cheney, Kansas, served as Franchione’s defensive coordinator at Pittsburg State from 1985-87. Patterson, who grew up in Rozel, Kansas, joined Franchione at Pitt State in 1988 as linebackers coach.
Patterson provided some insight into his decision-making process during an hour-long speech to young, aspiring coaches at this year’s American Football Coaches Association convention earlier this week in Nashville.
“If the media has to do with who gets hired, gentlemen, there’s a 70% chance they’re hiring the wrong person,” said Patterson, who became the organization’s president on Monday.
Patterson then told a story about meeting with a search committee years ago. The committee’s list included plenty of “splash” hires and “big-name” coaches that would generate headlines upon hiring.
But, as Patterson recalled, “I told them, ‘When you get done doing the podium guys, I want you to go to Northern Illinois and I want you to talk to a guy by the name of Jerry Kill.’
“He’s just a ball coach. He’ll roll his sleeves up, people in the community are going to like him, he’s going to get his kids to love him. … He still loves coaching the game. He can’t do it anymore because of his health. The bottom line to it — he still loves the game.”
For Patterson, Kill may be just what is needed for his program to contend for championships again. Kill will essentially oversee the offense, something that Patterson meddled with in 2019 more than he has in previous years.
Going into last season, Patterson said that he’d have “more say” in quarterback decisions and then expressed an interest in becoming even more involved on the offensive side after a disappointing blocking performance by the wide receivers in the season opener.
With Kill, Patterson may not feel as obligated to make his voice heard in the offensive room. That’s not to say he won’t have input, he’ll just have another set of trusted eyes in Kill to guide him.
Kill is expected to dissect everything from evaluations of coaches and players to play calls.
Despite a disappointing 5-7 season in 2019, TCU does not seem too far off. The Horned Frogs lost six games by one score or less.
If they flipped half of those games, most would have considered an eight- or nine-win season and bowl appearance with a true freshman quarterback in Max Duggan as a success.
And, even though he’s drawn the ire of a handful of TCU fans, Cumbie remains a respected offensive mind throughout the industry. UTSA interviewed Cumbie for its head coaching job, and a source said West Virginia expressed interest in Cumbie becoming its offensive coordinator.
Cumbie is set to return for a seventh season. As of now, a source said, his role remains the same as offensive coordinator and play-caller.
Cumbie and the rest of the coaching staff believe better days are ahead. Duggan has flashed promising signs of developing into a difference-making quarterback, and there is optimism about the 2020 season.
Patterson will be in his 20th season as TCU’s head coach and, as he told the AFCA attendees, every coach has a “window.” He knows his won’t last forever, but he’s doing his best to keep it open as long as possible.
“Don’t take this game for granted,” Patterson said. “We all have a window. How do we get to a point in our window where you get everything you want out of it?”
Patterson’s decisions may not always win the “podium.” That’s OK in the off-season. Game days in the fall are what matter most.
And those associated with TCU’s athletic department have full faith in Patterson to steer the program back to the level that’s expected.
As TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati told the Star-Telegram last month, “He knows better than anyone how to build this program. He’s had a lot of success. He knows how to win here and you’re not going to do that by starting over every year. Sometimes it’s the small adjustments, rather than the huge moves, that are going to be successful.
“His football mind is the best I’ve ever seen.”
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 10:43 AM.
