Virginia Tech added Jerry Kill as a special assistant to head coach Justin Fuente on Monday.
Kill, who is a former FBS head coach, resigned as the athletic director at Southern Illinois to accept this newly-created position with the Hokies. He will assist Fuente in a “myriad of duties” in a non-coaching role, according to Virginia Tech.
“Jerry Kill will serve as a tremendous resource for our football program,” Fuente said in a statement. “He can dissect the game from virtually every angle and will be able to provide his unique perspective on everything from recruiting, to personnel and facilities.
“After Coach Kill spent some time with our staff during preseason camp, it was apparent that he possesses a passion for being involved with a football program on a daily basis.”
Kill, 58, went 23-16 at Northern Illinois from 2008 to 2010 before compiling a 29-29 record at Minnesota from 2011-15. After winning Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 2014, he resigned halfway through the 2015 season due to health reasons, having missed several games in 2013 because of epilepsy.
He also was the head coach at Southern Illinois, an FCS school, from 2001-07, taking the program to five playoff appearances.
“While it was a difficult decision to leave so many wonderful friends and colleagues at Southern Illinois, I am thrilled for the opportunity to join Coach Fuente and his staff at Virginia Tech,” Kill said in a release.
Virginia Tech is 2-1 overall, 0-1 in the ACC. The team next plays Friday, Sept. 27, at home against Duke.
Fuente is 27-16 in his fourth season with the Hokies.
