Program Architects

Shortly after Jerry Kill took over the football program at Southern Illinois in 2001, he went to the Missouri Valley Conference basketball tournament to watch the Salukis. Call it school spirit. A chance to root for his new school. It also was a chance for his Kill’s wife, Rebecca, who was still living in Emporia, KS and getting the family’s former home ready to sell, to see her husband for the first time since he became the SIU coach. Kill felt good about where he was. Sure, he was taking over a program that hadn’t had a winning season in nine years, but he was proud, decked out in his Saluki garb. As the Kills watched basketball, a man sitting next to Jerry turned and asked: “Are you the new football coach at Southern Illinois?” When Jerry Kill answered yes, he got a shocking response. “Why would you come to the burial ground for football coaches?” the man asked. Trying