Vanderbilt expected to add former New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill to staff
College football insider Pete Thamel reports Thursday that Vanderbilt is currently in the process of hiring former longtime college head football coach Jerry Kill to the Commodores’ staff.
According to Thamel, Kill is expected to assume an off-the-field role for Vanderbilt, working alongside head coach Clark Lea and newly hired offensive coordinator Tim Beck.
Kill spent last season as the head coach of New Mexico State, leading the Aggies to a 10-5 record, a Conference USA Championship appearance, and a bowl game appearance before stepping down. But the 62-year-old will bring over 20 years of head coaching experience at the college level with him to Vanderbilt.
Kill inherited the New Mexico State program ahead of the 2022 season following a four year stretch where the team’s best record was 3-9. He immediately turned the program around with a 7-6 finish in his first season at the helm before the Aggies’ most recent 10-win finish, aided by Beck who served as New Mexico State’s offensive coordinator the past two seasons as well.
Now Kill rejoins his former offensive coordinator at Vanderbilt, as the two will look to yet again turn a program around that’s struggled and hasn’t seen a winning season since 2013.
Kill’s coaching beginnings start at the Division II level, serving as the defensive coordinator at Pittsburgh State from 1985-1987. After a three-year stint as a high school head coach, he’d return to Pittsburgh State as the team’s offensive coordinator before securing the first collegiate head coaching job of his career at Division II Saginaw Valley State.
After five seasons at Saginaw Valley State, Kill stayed at the Division II level and spent two seasons at Emporia State before breaking through to the Division I level, becoming the head coach at FCS Southern Illinois. Kill led the Salukis to three straight conference championship wins and five straight playoff appearances before traveling up the state to Northern Illinois, landing the first FBS job of his career.
Three years and three bowl game appearances later Kill broke through to the Power 5 level, named the head coach of Minnesota in 2010. He had an even 29-29 record in his time with the Golden Gophers before retiring in 2015 due to worsening health problems.
Kill served in various roles before returning to coaching at New Mexico State, including becoming the Athletic Director at Southern Illinois and being a special assistant at Virginia Tech and TCU. As he’ll now look to use his extensive knowledge and experience to help Vanderbilt reach new found success.