Respect runs deep between TCU coach Jerry Kill and Kansas’ Lance Leipold
The University of Kansas hasn’t been to a bowl game since 2008. The program has become one of college football’s bottom feeders and punchlines since parting ways with coach Mark Mangino following the 2009 season.
The Jayhawks have cycled through five head coaches — and one interim coach — since then but the fifth time may be the charm. First-year coach Lance Leipold just made KU history, leading the team to its first-ever victory over the University of Texas in Austin.
KU is looking to ride that momentum into its game against TCU at 3 p.m. Saturday in Fort Worth. Count TCU interim coach Jerry Kill among those who believe it’s just a matter of time before KU has more historic moments under Leipold.
“Great hire by KU. Off-the-charts smart guy,” Kill said. “You watch, he’ll get it back to where Mangino had it and competing and doing all those things. It won’t take him long.
“It usually takes three years, three or four years, but right now he’s got them on a faster track than I ever thought he could.”
Kill, a Cheney, Kansas, native who graduated from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, knows better than anyone what it takes to build a program.
When Kill took over at Southern Illinois in 2001, it hadn’t had a winning season in a decade. In Kill’s third season in 2003, the Salukis went 10-2 followed by another 10-2 season in 2004.
When Kill took over at Northern Illinois in 2008, the Huskies won a then-program record 11 games three years later in 2010.
Kill went on to have success at Minnesota, reaching a bowl game in four of his five seasons before stepping down due to health reasons.
Kill’s quarterbacks coach his final year at Northern Illinois and during his time at Minnesota was Jim Zebrowski, who is now serving in the same role on Leipold’s staff at KU.
“He’s got a good staff,” Kill said.
Kill added: “You score that many points against Texas, you beat Texas at their place, you’re doing something right. He’s brought a new mentality to that program and to that team. He doesn’t put up with a lot of stuff. A disciplined guy.
“No disrespect to anybody, but you know, they’re coached better. I mean, they’re coached better. Their technique is better. They’re just a lot better football team than what they were a year ago. There’s no comparison. They’re on the right track.”
The respect runs both ways. Those in the coaching industry have always respected the job Kill has done anywhere he’s been.
“Great reputation building programs,” Leipold said. “He’s from the state of Kansas. I actually received a text message from him upon receiving the (KU) job, so I’ve had some interaction. I can’t say a lot, but I’ve always had great respect. And I know if it wasn’t for some health issues at the time, he’d still be coaching strong, and I know he still has a great passion for it.”
Leipold has built a similar reputation for what he’s accomplished. This is a guy who won six Division III championships at Wisconsin-Whitewater, then built Buffalo into a bowl-worthy program and is hoping to do the same at Kansas.
As Kill said, “I can tell you from taking over programs and what they’re doing, they’re doing exactly what they need to do. I think you’ll see a team that’s going to be on the rise for the next several years.”
Who knows? Maybe Kill will land a similar job with Leipold and KU that he’s had with TCU the past couple of seasons as a special assistant. Kill knows his days are numbered at TCU since the school parted ways with his close friend and longtime head coach Gary Patterson on Oct. 31.
At the end of the day, though, Kill wants to stay in the business. He’s not ready to retire yet.
“Am I going to still be involved in football? Yes,” Kill said. “In what capacity? You know, whatever capacity that I can be in. I’ve been fortunate to have had three or four offers last year to leave here, and I chose to stay here. I love Texas and I bought land here in Texas. I won’t be selling that.
“But I’ll have an opportunity somewhere. I just don’t know what it’ll be and I don’t really care. I just want to be a part of the game. That’s all I’ve known. It’s still fun to me.”
This story was originally published November 18, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
