Minnesota about middle of pack of current openings

The news earlier this week came with sadness and a sense of relief. Jerry Kill stepped down as Minnesota’s coach citing health reasons.

Kill was a popular and successful coach, taking the Golden Gophers to three straight bowl games and a second-place division finish last season.

But he suffered seizures during two games in 2011 and one each in 2012 and 2013. There were none last season, but Kill said in an emotional news conference that he had attended a practice after suffering two seizures. For his own good and the sake of his family, retiring was the right call.

“I didn’t want somebody to have to worry about if I’m going to drop on the field,” Kill said. “I don’t have any more energy.”

Praise from Big Ten rivals poured in as his profession — and this region — lost a terrific representative.

Kill, from Cheney, Kan., played linebacker at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan., and started his coaching career at Pitt State in the late 1980s under Dennis Franchione. Also on that Gorillas’ staff was current TCU coach Gary Patterson.

From there, Kill spent two seasons at Webb City High, going 25-1 and winning a Missouri title. He returned to Pitt State as offensive coordinator and was part of the 1991 Division II national title staff. Kill became head coach at Emporia State in 1999 and 2000 before leaving the area for good.

Now, the major college coaching landscape has another opening, No. 8 since Illinois’ Tim Beckman was fired before the season started.

Here’s a ranking based on desirability.

1. Southern California. The rare mid-season blue blood opening was created when Steve Sarkisian was fired. Money, tradition, access to talent, this job is ready-made for a national-championship run. Did the Trojans defeat their next coach last weekend in Utah’s Kyle Willingham?

2. South Carolina. Some might suggest Miami, Fla., in this spot and among the huge-stadium schools of the SEC, South Carolina has the least amount of tradition. Two former national-championship coaches, Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier, couldn’t win a league title in Columbia.

But the facilities are fantastic, fan support is a given, and the stronger SEC programs these days are in the other division. If the Gamecocks go big-game hunting again, the target could be Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez.

3. Miami, Fla. When top South Florida athletes are interested, the Hurricanes are a national power. When they’re not, they lose 58-0 to Clemson. Many signs point to Alabama offensive line coach Mario Cristobal as the top candidate. But Miami and South Carolina should strongly consider Memphis Coach Justin Fuente.

4. Maryland. Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank is a former Maryland football player and generous donor to Terps athletics, moving toward an Oregon/Nike relationship. And we’ve seen what an apparel company has done for the Ducks and Eugene. Maryland can sell Big Ten football in its prospect heavy region. Wonder if Maryland will talk to a former Oregon coach, Chip Kelly, for the job?

5. Minnesota. I covered a game at TFC Bank Stadium earlier this month. Wonderful setting. Kill has the Gophers headed in the right direction. Bowling Green’s Dino Babers may be the one to continue to progress.

6. Illinois. There’s plenty of room for growth here, and the job would attract an up-and-comer from non-power five program. Somebody like Western Kentucky’s Jeff Brohm. The Illini could also do worse than to hand the job to interim Bill Cubit on a full-time basis.

7. Central Florida. There are enough Florida prospects to go around, and Central Florida should get its share. But it could take a couple of years to get the Knights up and running.

8. North Texas. Interesting that half of the openings in college football come from the richest states for prospects, California, Florida and Texas. North Texas isn’t a destination job but you can get to a bowl game or two from there.

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 7:48 PM with the headline "Minnesota about middle of pack of current openings."