TCU interim football coach Jerry Kill addresses report linking him to New Mexico State
TCU interim coach Jerry Kill has no plans to retire. He wants to stay involved in college football and he very well could land another head coaching job this offseason.
Kill’s name surfaced as a potential head coach candidate at New Mexico State. Doug Martin is still the coach at New Mexico State, but a report on FootballScoop.com said the school is expected to part ways with Martin and that Kill is a leading candidate to fill the position.
Kill didn’t deny the possibility during his media availability on Tuesday, acknowledging that he and New Mexico State athletic director Mario Moccia have a long history together. Kill and Moccia crossed paths at Southern Illinois in 2006-07 when Kill served as the head football coach and Moccia was the AD.
“We go back a long way,” Kill said. “Right now, I need to concentrate on what I’m doing. I’ve said all along that I was committed to my job here and so forth. Right now, I’ve got too many things going on. I can’t do two jobs or whatever. I’m not that smart, so I’m just focused on where I need to be right now.”
Asked if retirement could be an option, Kill said: “I’m not going to retire. That won’t happen.”
Kill, 60, has not served as a full-time head coach since stepping down at Minnesota due to health reasons. But he’s changed his lifestyle and recently said he has a better understanding of how to approach the head coach position in more of a CEO-type role after observing how different programs are run.
Kill has spent time at Kansas State, Rutgers, Virginia Tech and TCU since stepping down at Minnesota. He has gone 2-1 as TCU’s interim coach this season, filling the role after the school and longtime coach Gary Patterson parted ways on Oct. 31.
Kill has gained the respect of the locker room for how he’s approached the temporary position.
“It’s been tremendous for us,” senior wide receiver Derius Davis said. “Ever since he’s been named the interim coach, he’s done a great job of uplifting our spirits, giving us motivation through his speeches. He’s just done a great job since he was named the head coach, and I’m thankful for him.”
Along with Kill being a target, FootballScoop reported that TCU offensive analyst and longtime Pittsburg (Kansas) State head coach Tim Beck would join him as offensive coordinator at New Mexico State.
In the meantime, Kill and TCU are preparing for Friday’s game at Iowa State. The Frogs (5-6) have a chance to clinch a bowl berth with a victory.
As far as TCU’s coaching search, SMU’s Sonny Dykes has emerged as the top target as the Star-Telegram reported this week. A deal between TCU and Dykes could be reached shortly after SMU’s regular-season finale against Tulsa on Saturday.
This story was originally published November 23, 2021 at 1:33 PM.
