Jerry Kill is getting a nearly $1 million raise. The University of Minnesota announced Saturday that it has restructured Kill’s contract as head football coach, increasing his salary to $2.1 million next year, up from $1.2 million, the Star Tribune reports.
He has been the lowest paid football coach in the Big Ten conference. Even with the raise, Kill’s annual pay remains in the lower tier among his conference colleagues.
The revised deal also extends Kill’s contract with the Gophers by one year through the 2018-19 season, according to KSTP.
“I appreciate the support President Eric Kaler and Athletic Director Norwood Teague have shown to me, the program and our student-athletes,” said Kill in a release issued by the university. “I am extremely proud of what our players and coaches accomplished on and off the field last season. We still have a lot of work to do, but are moving the program in the right direction.”
The reward comes after Kill guided the Gophers to a second-straight bowl appearance. The Gophers have gone 3-9, 6-7 and 8-5 in Kill’s first three seasons.
Kill’s team also won four consecutive Big Ten conference games last fall – the first such run for a Gopher football team in 40 years.
“Coach Kill is proving his model works here at the University of Minnesota,” said Minnesota Athletic Director Norwood Teague in the statement. “It is right to support him as he builds a program that will make the state of Minnesota proud.”
“Jerry Kill is the right coach for the University of Minnesota,” said University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler in the same statement. “He has clearly moved our program forward and I am pleased we have come to this agreement to secure his long-term leadership of Gopher football.”
Kaler and Teague have supported Kill the past three years as he has struggled with epilepsy. Kill missed several games this past season when he had difficulty controlling his seizures. His top assistants took over sideline duties while Kill spent those games in the press box.
