Kill has seizure and will miss Michigan game

Gophers coach Jerry Kill is at home in Minnesota after suffering a seizure this morning. Tracy Claeys is the acting head coach.

October 5, 2013 at 9:28PM
Michigan tight end Devin Funchess (87) scores a touchdown in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Minnesota, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Michigan tight end Devin Funchess (87) scores a touchdown in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Minnesota, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

ANN ARBOR, MICH. -- Gophers coach Jerry Kill had another epileptic seizure this morning and will not be coaching when the team plays Michigan, the athletics department announced.

Kill, who has epilepsy, wasn't feeling well Friday morning, so he remained in Minnesota while the team flew here for the game. Kill was planning to join the team on Saturday morning but suffered the seizure at home.

He is not in the hospital. He is resting at home, according to a team spokesman.

"This is a setback for him," Gophers athletics director Norwood Teague told the team's flagship radio station KFAN 100.3 FM. "We've got a bye week next week, so we'll keep managing it and move forward."

Gophers defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys will serve as acting coach from the press box.

This is the fourth time in Kill's three seasons at Minnesota that he will have to miss part of a game. He suffered a seizure in the last minute of a loss to New Mexico State in 2011, and had another one at halftime of the Michigan State game in 2012.

Kill also had a seizure at halftime of the Western Illinois game on Sept. 14.

Update: Quarterback Mitch Leidner worked with the first-team offense during warm-ups and Philip Nelson worked with the second-team, so another change could be in the works there.

ADVERTISEMENT
about the writer

about the writer

joecstrib

More from Sports

See More
card image
Richard Tsong-Taatarii/The Minnesota Star Tribune

David Coit finished with 29 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 27.2 seconds left, for the Terrapins.

card image
card image