LAS CRUCES – Jerry Kill will be introduced as New Mexico State’s next head coach on Monday afternoon.
Multiple sources confirmed to Sun News that Kill, 60, will replace Doug Martin, whose contract will not be renewed after nine seasons. Kill is expected to be presented at a press conference on Monday.
The Aggies beat Massachusetts 44-27 on Saturday, finishing Martin’s ninth season with a 2-10 record and a 25-74 overall record as the Aggies’ head coach.
Kill, 60, previously worked for New Mexico State Athletic Director Mario Moccia in Southern Illinois when Kill was head coach there from 2001 to 2007 and Moccia was AD.
After Saturday’s game, Moccia didn’t comment directly on Kill in relation to the Aggies job, but has a long-standing relationship with Kill, who was last interim coach at Texas Christian for the last three games of the season.
“I certainly worked with him directly in Southern Illinois,” said Moccia. “It is a unique community where you know a lot of donors, sponsors and supporters. I have certainly stayed in contact with him and his employees over the years.
“Just because it doesn’t look like anything is moving on the street, there is always a subway underneath.”
Moccia described qualities he was looking for in the next head coach, including a proven track record in programs with limited resources and a willingness to engage the community.
Kill is 153-99 overall, including a 38-14 mark in Saginaw Valley State, a 55-32 record in 2001-2007 in Southern Illinois, and a 29-29 record in Minnesota from 2011-15 with three bowl game appearances .
Moccia hasn’t hired a football coach at NM State, but he compared Kill’s credentials to current basketball head coach Chris Jans.
“Chris Jans coached junior college for eight years and had an 80 percent win rate. When he got his chance at bowling green, he was National Coach of the Year for Freshman Coach,” said Moccia. “He had a proven track record. This is something you always want.”
Kill has not been a head coach since 2015, but his hiring would make sense in view of the rapid season change with the early engagement day in December and the regular engagement in February with subsequent spring training.
Kill also had serious medical problems. Kill suffered from epileptic seizures and resigned as head coach in Minnesota in 2015. He suffered a late game game against New Mexico State in Minnesota last two years in 2011 and retired from the season as interim head coach for the final four games after the sacking of Gary Patterson.
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