Gophers' Jerry Kill Named Big Ten Coach Of The Year
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A day after five players from the University of Minnesota football team earned All-Big Ten first team honors, the man leading the program got an award for the first time in 15 years.
Gophers football coach Jerry Kill was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year Tuesday by the media and his peers in the conference. It's the first Coach of the Year award for Minnesota since Glen Mason got it in 1999 and the second since 1972.
Minnesota's program has improved every year in Kill's four seasons. The Gophers improved this year in league play with a 5-3 record after going 4-4 last year. Kill has helped lead the Gophers to consecutive eight-win seasons for the first time since 2002 and 2003.
On Monday, five players were selected All-Big Ten first team between the media and coaches. The honors went to tight end Maxx Williams, punter Peter Mortell, Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Damien Wilson on defense and Zac Epping on the offensive line.
The Gophers (8-4) will find out their bowl game on Sunday.