Kill Still Resting; ‘U’ President Renews Support

MINNEAPOLIS -- Without a game this week, Minnesota coach Jerry Kill has been at home following a seizure that kept him from traveling with the team for last Saturday's loss at Michigan.

This was the fifth game-day episode Kill endured in three seasons with the Gophers, and the fourth that caused him to miss at least a portion of a game. But University President Eric Kaler reiterated Tuesday his support for Kill and the coach's ability to handle the high-profile, high-pressure job while dealing with epilepsy.

Kaler, in a phone interview with The Associated Press, said he and athletic director Norwood Teague have not been considering another coach in light of Kill's latest absence.

Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys filled in for Kill on the Big Ten coaches' call with reporters Tuesday. Claeys said there's no rush for Kill to return to work; the Gophers don't play again until Oct. 19 at Northwestern.

Kill's latest seizure stemmed from a medication adjustment. Claeys said he's spoken daily with Kill on the phone but hasn't discussed a timetable for Kill coming back.

The Gophers will practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but Claeys didn't indicate whether Kill would be ready by then.

Claeys takes over as the acting head coach whenever Kill has to leave, and the rest of the assistants assume extra duties as well. As important as Kill's job is, nobody around the program or at the university has expressed any concern, publicly at least, about his absence.

The Gophers fell to 4-2 overall and 0-2 in the conference with their 42-13 loss Saturday.

Kaler said his concern is with Kill's health, not with the coach's status. Kill has said previously he would quit if he didn't think his condition would allow him to handle the job.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.