Kill heads north to replace Novak

DeKALB - Northern Illinois University Athletic Director Jim Phillips poured over 1,261 resumes searching for the ideal candidate to replace football coach Joe Novak. All Phillips had to do was travel a few hours south on Interstate 57 to find the school's 20th head football coach. Seventeen days after Novak's retirement announcement, Phillips introduced Jerry Kill as the new head football coach at Northern Illinois Thursday. Kill, 46, turned the once-morbid SIU program into a Division I-AA juggernaut, leading the Salukis to five straight playoff berths. Kill guided Southern Illinois to the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals (formerly Division I-AA), but the Salukis fell to Delaware Saturday to finish with a 12-2 mark. Donning a new tie and shirt, Kill sold the large crowd inside the McCareins Auditorium with his country charm, honesty and desire to coach at the next level. “I chased the dream, and the dream came true today,” Kill said. “I wanted the opportunity to coach Division I-A football and wanted to make it a place that would be a great fit and I knew that would have a chance to be successful. It's a great opportunity, we're going to do great things because we have great leadership at the top. This is a chapter we have to take in my life and further the dream, it's too darn good of an opportunity to turn down. Football is important here, I want to be where it's important.” Phillips and Novak spent two days in Atlanta working with a search firm to formulate a list of potential coaches. Phillips said the list of candidates included former head coaches NFL and FBS coaches, Division II and Division III coaches and assistants. Phillips said Kill was the final candidate left to interview. Rumors circulated Kill was the main candidate for the Colorado State job. Colorado State Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk hired Kill at Southern Illinois in 2001. “When Joe and I went down to Carbondale and met with him Sunday morning, he blew us both away,” Phillips said. “When you talk about institutional fit, it seemed like a perfect fit. We brought him to Chicago yesterday with another candidate and made a decision last night.” Rumors circulated late Monday night that South Florida assistant coach Dan McCarney and Grand Valley State coach Chuck Martin were two of the final candidates, but Phillips stayed away from naming coaches. Phillips inked Kill to a five-year deal with an option for an extension after two years. Kill's contract is filled with several incentives which includes graduation rates, winning a Mid-American Conference championship, earning postseason coaching awards and even a BCS clause if the Huskies make a BCS bowl. Southern Illinois offered Kill a lifetime contract to stay in Carbondale, but Kill was intrigued at the opportunity to work with 22 more scholarships and a bigger budget. “We came up with the right person,” Phillips said. “We wanted a person with high character, a proven winner, passionate about college football, a leader and motivator, had tremendous successful experience, one that put an emphasis on academics and social behavior, unmatched work ethic and somebody who could fill the gigantic shoes of coach Novak, a role model, family and community-oriented and the right institutional fit.” Two years ago, Kill was diagnosed with kidney cancer, but dispelled any health concerns over handling the rigors of his new job. “I'm in complete remission and feel fantastic,” Kill said. “It's the greatest thing that's ever happened in my life. I've been able to start a cancer fund and help a lot of people. I've learned to appreciate life and I don't have any bad days. I'm a positive person, every day I get up is a great day. It's made me a better person. I feel fantastic. I just coached 12 or 13 games like a machine. I'm in great shape.” A former walk-on player at Southwestern College, Kill built a solid reputation for reversing the fortunes of programs at Emporia State, Saginaw Valley State and Southern Illinois. Kill won or shared three Gateway Conference titles in seven years at SIU. Kill, who has a 104-57 mark in 14 seasons, inherits an NIU program coming off an injury-filled 2-10 season. The Salukis contributed to NIU's downfall with a stunning fourth quarter comeback to post a 34-31 victory on Sept. 8. The Huskies, with 24 seniors dotting next year's roster, have enough pieces to contend for a MAC West title. Kill said he will incorporate some of Novak's defensive principles but tailor the offense to the personnel. “I need to assess the team, I certainly assessed them when we were playing them,” Kill said. “There's a good nucleus here and a relative young team. I don't think you limit your goals, but we have a lot of work to do. I want a hard hat, lunch pail team. I think what you put into life is what you get out of it. We're going to work hard. I told some young people today you better do something during Christmas because when you get back we're going to get after it. I believe in hard work. The harder you work, the better your chances are for success. I'll push them to the limit. I won't win a popularity contest at times.”