Minnesota's Coach Kill to retire immediately due to health reasons
Coach Kill announced today that he is retiring effective immediately due to health reasons. Tracy Claeys has been named interim head coach.
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) October 28, 2015October 28th, 2015 at 8:52 AM ^
October 28th, 2015 at 8:54 AM ^
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October 28th, 2015 at 8:57 AM ^
October 28th, 2015 at 8:56 AM ^
They don't always win, but teams playing for a coach they love who is leaving have historically played very well . . . from Earl Bruce to Lloyd Carr.
We will get Minnesota's A game for certain. We better be ready.
October 28th, 2015 at 9:19 AM ^
It's not like he's actually coaching this last game a la Bruce and Carr.
I gotta think there's a bit of a difference.
October 28th, 2015 at 9:24 AM ^
October 28th, 2015 at 10:17 AM ^
Minny is used to a coach subbing in for Kill. They will be composed and highly inspired.
For selfish reasons, I wish this was happening before their game with Ohio State and not with us.
October 28th, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
too. For numerous reasons. Obviously, the most important issue here is Coach Kill's health, bu there are footbal reasons why this took place at a very bad time for us. Minnesota appeared ready to pack it in, and we could have used an easy win where emotions just were not part of the deal. I think Michigan will be physically ready to play this game at a high level, but we are fooling ourselves if we think there is going to be no emotional ramifications of the State game. I think initially this game was one that would see them play with a real edge and that the emotional result of the State game would be one of anger and we would see a really intense and aggresive team. This has now become a "thoughts and prayers" game and that is the exact 100% opposite of what this team needs. ESPN will be heavy on that angle also and I don't think we will see many calls go in our favor this game either. It is also not a game now that Harbaugh will be willing to "run it up" to any degree if we do pull away due to his respect for Kill but it comes at a time when style points are very important.
Once again, none of this overrides the primary concern, that being for Kill's health. But for Michigan football, wrong place wrong time. Hope we bring it.
October 28th, 2015 at 8:57 AM ^
October 28th, 2015 at 9:21 AM ^
will give us their very best effort for their coach, but have you watched Minny this year at all? They are kind of a bad football team. It won't be enough. Best wishes to Jerry Kill, who seems like a likeable guy and great coach.
October 28th, 2015 at 9:36 AM ^
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October 28th, 2015 at 9:49 AM ^
is not necessarily "bad at football" because they have played a few bad games. It is basically the same team personnel wise that took us behind the shed last year, and the same defense that held TCU to like 17 or 20 points earlier this year. 90% of the people on this blog were steadfast that we were "totally going to destroy State" based on STATISTICS and their play before that game. The result was the biggest fan base meltdown in the history of organized sports where our AD had to send a letter out to calm everybody down! To dismiss Minnesota "bad at football" is kind of crazy to me based on what we just witnessed two weekends ago. Are we as a fanbase going to make that mistake again in terms of our expectations, again, the very next game? Really?
October 28th, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^
Minnesota is well-coached team that has limited talent at the skill positions and are plagued by injury issues. Kill's departure could negatively impact them. They just saw their coach retire. The man who recruited them is now gone. The program suddenly finds itself adrift without it's captain. How the players react to this is anyone's guess.
But remember that they were blown out at home by Nebraska.
October 28th, 2015 at 1:03 PM ^
read my post as comparing Minnesota to Michigan State is beyond ludicrous. Of course it is not the same level of opponent, be we have not sustained any level of success long enough to declare that a team could flat out not beat us, regardless of any extenuating circumstances. You would think that we have been a national power for the last eight years when we are basing our expectations really on two games against two teams that were never what people were making them out to be, and Maryland. I am just saying that reading the posts two weeks ago you would have thought we were Alabama. I think Minnesota is a capable team given the right circumstances and I think it is a mistake as fan base to be so dismissive.
October 28th, 2015 at 10:38 PM ^
then there is a good chance we will lose on the road to PSU, IU and at home against OSU. As long as we play hard mistake free football we should win by 14 to 28 points.
October 28th, 2015 at 9:25 AM ^
Look man, your claim is not outrageous, but I am sure you see that "if you disagree with me, then you don't understand" is a really bad premise, right?
Also, insert joke about how it will be chilly regardless of anyone's retirement.
October 28th, 2015 at 9:35 AM ^
is it any worse of a premise than "No its not." ?
October 28th, 2015 at 10:23 AM ^
Because "it is not" attacks the argument, and "then you don't understand" attacks the person. It kinda scares me that colleges graduates no longer understand that ad hominim arguments are logical fallacies.
October 28th, 2015 at 11:11 AM ^
is not" does not "attack" the argument. It is completely dismissive and really opts out of the argument and is just a conclusory statement. I set forth my argument as to why. And I believe that a person who does not believe it is either intentionally ignoring it or really doesn't understand it. I don't see how that is "attacking the person."
October 28th, 2015 at 9:47 AM ^
Anyway, better he go now than have a seizure at the game or some future game. Seems like a good guy.
October 28th, 2015 at 10:04 AM ^
October 28th, 2015 at 8:48 AM ^
...but this was my first thought, particularly because of last year's episode of Coach Kill having seizures before the Michigan game.
Minnesota will pull out all the stops to get the jug for Coach K. This game more than any other.
The bar has been raised, IMHO.
That said, best to Coach K and his family. Life is far too short. (I know this personally. I lost my 47-year-old wife to cancer 5 years ago.)
October 28th, 2015 at 8:54 AM ^
Sorry for your loss - thats a raw fucking deal.
October 28th, 2015 at 9:36 PM ^
cancer SUCKS!!!
October 28th, 2015 at 8:49 AM ^
I'm willing to bet they aren't looking ahead to the big Rutgers matchup next week.
October 28th, 2015 at 9:03 AM ^
Best wishes to Coach Kill and his family. He's had some scary moments on the sidelines, and now he can focus on getting well.
October 28th, 2015 at 8:43 AM ^
This sucks for Gophers-- Kill is a supremely competent coach and seemed to be exactly what the Gophers needed after The Tim Brewster Experience. Huge loss for Minny.
Obviously, Claeys will get the chance to prove himself for the head job, but would Minnesota be considered a better job than some of the others?
October 28th, 2015 at 9:20 AM ^
Yes, I think at this point the Minnesota job is clearly a tier above the Illinois opening. They could lure a quality up and comer.
October 28th, 2015 at 10:22 AM ^
That statement says it all in terms of what Kill has accomplished there.
That was unthinkable until he came along.
October 28th, 2015 at 1:12 PM ^
I think Rod Carey would be a great fit... he's in line for some kind of better gig and he has Minnesota ties.
October 28th, 2015 at 9:33 AM ^
Better than Illinois now, far better than Purdue and Rutgers. Not as good as Maryland aspires to be, but better than their current reality.
I don't think they want to break up the staff Kill put in place. Unless Claeys flames out, the job should be his. Second choice would be someone to come in with a similar philosophy and without bringing his own assistants. While a longshot, this is the one opening where Hoke would be a good fit.
October 28th, 2015 at 9:58 AM ^
Hoke going to more of a Maryland level program than Minnesota. Minnesota was widely regarded as an up and comer before the season and has some football pedigree. I wonder if Narduzzi is thinking he jumped a year too early? I think both Illinois and Minnesota would have been ideal for him and both just a click up from Pittsburg.
October 28th, 2015 at 10:29 AM ^
Stays in B1G footprint, his style is conducive to Minnesota success, doesn't have to face Dantonio every year with long breaks in between, goes to weaker of B1G divisions in terms of blue blood programs to compete with. I agree that Claeys deserves the shot, but if Minny decides to go big name to try and build on what Kill established, Narduzzi would be it.
October 28th, 2015 at 11:14 AM ^
that happens, and I know it may be a long shot, but if it does? Man, look out for the BIG.
October 28th, 2015 at 11:40 AM ^
I'd never go after someone like that to make a largely lateral move. If he'd dump Pitt so fast, why wouldn't he do the same to Minny? After Pitt's recent experiences with Chryst and Graham, I'd expect he has a hefty buyout clause too.
October 28th, 2015 at 11:45 AM ^
this is a good argument on Narduzzi too. You brought it today Miggle.
October 28th, 2015 at 11:19 AM ^
I don't think he's a good fit for a rebuild. Maryland is aiming higher. They won't consider Hoke. Minny should be looking for stabilty. Hiring from within should be their first choice, but Hoke is a decent alternative. He's a fit for their system and the personality of their program. They need someone to lead the current staff and provide a boost in recruiting. If not, MInny, I see Hoke going to a lesser program that just had their coach poached.
October 28th, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^
present a pretty good argument for Hoke here. But he really kind of came out looking rather clownish against Minnesota last year, and in a "player safety" way. I actually think that Minnesota's experience both in pummeling a Hoke coached team and having first hand involvment in minor-concussion-gate could deter them from looking in that direction.
October 28th, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^
the mess in their AD. Not sure Illinois is better even after that.
October 28th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
I really strongly think Hoke will end up at Purdue, what with all his Indiana area cred.
October 28th, 2015 at 8:44 AM ^
It's very telling when a man like J Kill has been around/coaching for as long as he has and EVERYONE has only nice things to say (aside from some former player whining about not getting a scholly). I've heard only good things about him. Best wishes and good luck to him!
October 28th, 2015 at 8:45 AM ^
I live here in Minnesota. He is a class act and a really good coach. Funny that I learn of the news on MGoBlog.
October 28th, 2015 at 8:47 AM ^
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October 28th, 2015 at 8:57 AM ^
October 28th, 2015 at 8:58 AM ^
There are coaches you want to see forced out of their jobs because of life threatening illnesses ?
October 28th, 2015 at 9:07 AM ^
But I'm an awful person. I often wish cancer on my enemies.
October 28th, 2015 at 9:29 AM ^
That came out wrong. The responders interpretations are not what I meant, but the wording is all my fault. Sorry.
What I meant is that there are some coaches that annoy me and I would love for them to make a sudden decision to cease coaching. (Like an idiot) I was not thinking of the reason for the decision, either in this case or the implied hypothetical cases.
October 28th, 2015 at 9:44 AM ^
October 28th, 2015 at 8:47 AM ^
I have a very short list of college coaches I'd want my boys to play for. It just got shorter. Best of luck and health, Coach.