Jerry Kill steps down at New Mexico State
Update >> New Mexico State has announced this, as well as Tony Sanchez being tabbed to take over as the new leader of the program.
Kill shared the following in the school's release:
"This year has been tremendously difficult for me, and I gave it everything I had physically, mentally and emotionally. New Mexico State holds a special place in my heart as it marks the end of my journey as a head coach. While I'll remain involved with the Aggies, I recognize the need for a head coach with a lot of energy. Good luck to Coach Sanchez, the student-athletes and New Mexico State University."
Sources confirm to FootballScoop that Jerry Kill is stepping down at New Mexico.
Numerous other outlets are reporting the same.
The veteran college head coach stepped back into leading a program heading into the 2022 season, taking over the Aggies and helping lead them to a bowl game (and win) in his first season.
After that season, fully entrenched and embracing the culture of Las Cruces, Kill fulfilled a promise and got himself a tattoo.
He followed that up with a ten-win campaign in 2023, leading the Aggies to a 10-5 mark before taking the podium all fired up about how his guys were treated in their post game press conference, calling New Mexico's AD "chickenshit."
A renowned program builder, Kill was 17-11 rebuilding the New Mexico program.
Kill, who signed a six-year contract when he took over the program, previously stepped down as the head coach at Minnesota citing health concerns seven games into the 2015 season with the Gophers.
After stepping away at Minnesota, Kill was away from college football for a bit before taking the Rutgers offensive coordinator job in 2017.
He would join Justin Fuente's staff at Virginia Tech in 2019 as an assistant to the head coach, and then did the same role at TCU under Gary Patterson. Kill stepped into the interim head coach role following Patterson and the Horned Frogs parting ways midway through the season, and led the team to a 2-2 finish to the season.
The 62-year old has built programs at the D-II, FCS, and Group of Five programs including Saginaw Valley State (D-II - MI), Emporia State (D-II - KS), Southern Illinois (FCS), and Northern Illinois before landing the Gophers job.
He has an impressive 175-115 record leading those programs, leaving each one with a record of .500 or higher.
Multiple reports share that former UNLV head coach Tony Sanchez, who went 20-40 in five seasons in Vegas after a historic run atop the Bishop Gorman HS (NV) program, is expected to take over as head coach.
It marks a full circle moment for Sanchez, who played for the program in the mid 90's.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
