[ot-caption title=”A Minnesota fan holds a sign honoring former Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill during an NCAA college football game against Michigan, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)”]

On Wednesday, October 28^th, University of Minnesota Head Football Coach Jerry Kill announced his retirement for health reasons. Kill, 54, has dealt with epilepsy since a sudden seizure in 2005, and while the veteran coach has attempted to cope with the effects for years in order to continue his football career, it just wasn’t mean to be. The struggle culminated when an emotional Jerry Kill announced his sudden retirement to the media after a final practice a couple of weeks ago.

From a statistical standpoint, Jerry Kill had a rock solid career. After approximately thirty years as a head coach in college football, he racked up a career record of 156-102, winning over sixty percent of his total games. At his first Division I stint at Northern Illinois, the Huskies participated in postseason play in three consecutive seasons, earning Kill national recognition along with a job offer at Big Ten’s Minnesota. After accepting the position, Kill took the Golden Gophers from college football’s cellar dwellers to a notable program. In last year’s season, Kill’s last as head coach, Minnesota finished the season with an 8-5 record, made an appearance at the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day, and won over powerhouses Michigan and Nebraska (both on the road). The Gophers even led eventual National Champion Ohio State late in the fourth quarter before losing by a touchdown. Additionally, six Minnesota players were drafted into the NFL in Kill’s campaign as coach, notably tight end Maxx Williams and running back, David Cobb, who now play for the Ravens and Titans respectively. Essentially, in his four-year tenure as head coach in Minneapolis, Jerry Kill returned Minnesota to national relevance.

However, more importantly, Jerry Kill’s legacy transcends the playing field. His programs embodied the foundations of his character: hard work, discipline, genuine competition, and most significantly, integrity. It’s evident just looking at his career path, which was not as glorious as outsiders to the sport might think. Before getting to coach at college football’s pinnacle in the Big Ten, Jerry Kill held jobs at Webb City (MO) High School, Division II schools such as Pittsburgh State, Emporia State, and Saginaw Valley, FCS’s Southern Illinois, and Northern Illinois before finally being granted his most prestigious position. Not given even the slightest advantage professionally, Jerry Kill built his coaching reputation on pure grit and climbed through the ranks of college football. In a way, the veteran represents the American Dream in sports, arriving at football’s biggest stage on pure effort and desire. Additionally, players over the years loved playing under the Kansas native. The Vikings released a statement from previous Gopher and current Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Isaac Fruechte who remarked that his collegiate coach “was like a second father coming to the university. He was the only person who had faith and the trust in me that I’d be able to get it done.” It was this effort to lay a groundwork of belief and loyalty into his individual players and in the programs entirely that truly defined Jerry Kill. Perhaps a perfect piece of evidence to sum up what Jerry Kill was all about is found in the manner he retired. Kill walked off the practice field and announced emotionally that he would no longer be leading the team he loves. An interim coach would replace him for the time being. The interim- Tracy Claeys: Kill’s defensive coordinator for the past twenty-one years. How’s that for loyalty?

The world of college football and the entire athletic community will greatly miss the professionalism and knowledge that Jerry Kill brought to Minnesota. But more importantly, the sport will miss the great man Kill was and the character and moral ethics he brought to those to around him.