Coach Kill out of hospital, plans to resume work Monday

Seizure was relatively minor, his staff says, and won't interrupt preparations for next Saturday

October 15, 2012 at 12:15PM
Minnesota coach Jerry Kill
Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill looks watches during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 31-13. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Gophers coach Jerry Kill was released from a suburban Minneapolis hospital on Sunday morning, roughly 14 hours after he suffered a minor seizure at TCF Bank Stadium following the Gophers' 21-13 loss to Northwestern.
The seizure was far less severe than the one that occurred in front of fans during a game 13 months ago, defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys said, and Kill was likely to return to work on Monday. The Gophers don't have another practice scheduled until Tuesday, and Kill has never missed a game due to his condition.
"If this had happened 30 minutes later at home, there's no big deal about it," Claeys said, and it may not have even required hospitalization. "But when it happens (at the stadium), you have no choice but to get an ambulance and get him to the hospital."
A statement released by the university said Kill was tested and cleared to return to work. "All tests confirm that he remains in excellent health," Dr. Pat Smith, the Gophers' team physician, said in the statement. "His only concern is his team and his staff, and he is excited to resume his normal coaching duties."
The seizure occurred in Kill's private locker room less than an hour after the game ended, shortly after he finished his normal series of post-game interviews. No players witnessed the seizure, but they were informed via text message of his condition Saturday evening.
"He wishes it wasn't public, because it doesn't affect how we do things, how we prepare. Without a doubt, that's the most frustrating thing to him," Claeys said. "Other people don't have such a public job, but they live with it and do their jobs. It just so happens during the season, it's more public. ... I don't mean to (say) it's all so ho-hum, but there are a lot of people who live with it."
The Gophers, 4-2 but 0-2 in the Big Ten, face Wisconsin in Madison on Saturday.

about the writer

about the writer

Phil Miller

Reporter

Phil Miller has covered the Twins for the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2013. Previously, he covered the University of Minnesota football team, and from 2007-09, he covered the Twins for the Pioneer Press.

See Moreicon

More from Sports

See More
Lakeville is moving its Area Learning Center, designed to help students who struggle academically or socially in high school, to a space within each high school in 2017 in an effort to save money and provide a variety of classes for students. Above: Lakeville South High School.
The Minnesota Star Tribune

With an investigation ongoing and the girls team's season over, Kurt Weber steps in to try to lead the boys team back to the state tournament.

card image
card image