Coach Jerry Kill returns to Southern Illinois as ambassador

Published Jan. 31, 2018 11:28 a.m. ET

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) Former Southern Illinois football coach Jerry Kill is returning as an ambassador for the Carbondale university.

School officials made the announcement Tuesday, saying Kill's appointment as special assistant to the chancellor will start in mid-March. Kill retired from coaching last year because of seizures caused his epilepsy. He spent the season as offensive coordinator at Rutgers.

Kill was at Southern Illinois from 2001 to 2007, leading the Salukis to three straight Gateway Conference championships. He also coached at Northern Illinois and Minnesota, where he was named 2014 Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Kill says he is ''excited to contribute to the university's future in any way possible.'' SIU athletic director Tommy Bell calls Kill a valuable asset for the school.