Jerry Kill Named I-AA Coach of the Year
12/16/2004 | 12:00:00 | Football
Dec. 16, 2004
By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - At the Division I-AA College Football Awards banquet at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo hotel Thursday night, Southern Illinois University football coach Jerry Kill was named the winner of the Eddie Robinson Award honoring the Coach of the Year.
Saluki athletics director Paul Kowalczyk presented the award to Kill, who was joined at the festivities by his family and SIUC Chancellor Walter V. Wendler.
Kill shared the limelight with Payton Award winner quarterback Lang Campbell of William & Mary and Buchanan Award winner linebacker Jordan Beck of Cal Poly. The Payton Award goes to the best offensive player in I-AA, while the Buchanan Award honors the division's best defensive player. The three awards are presented annually by the Sports Network, which surveyed sports information directors and media to tabulate the winners.
"It is a tremendous honor to receive this award on behalf of my assistant coaches, our administration and our university," Kill said. "We have all worked hard to put Southern Illinois football back on the map. It's an award that we all share."
In his fourth year at the helm of Southern Illinois, Kill guided the Salukis to a 10-2 record and a Gateway Conference championship, posting a perfect 7-0 league mark. The Salukis spent 10 weeks atop the I-AA polls and earned a playoff bid for the second year in a row. They were upset in the first round of the playoffs by Eastern Washington.
The 2004 season came on the heels of a remarkable 2003 campaign in which Southern shocked the world of I-AA football by winning its first 10 games and advancing to the playoffs for the first time in 20 years. Kill was runner-up for the Eddie Robinson Award in '03.
Saluki football, long the doormat of the Gateway Conference, has been revitalized under Kill's leadership.
"What Jerry's been able to accomplish is a college football story for the ages," Kowalczyk said. "He runs his program with class, integrity and professionalism and is most deserving of this award."
Kill said he was humbled by the award, which is named after the Grambling coach who won eight national championships and retired as the winningest coach in college football history.
"Eddie Robinson was a legend in this game, and to receive this award is the greatest honor of my life," Kill said. "I'm very thankful."
The list of accomplishments by the 2004 Saluki squad is remarkable. They became the first team to win back-to-back conference championships at SIU since 1961. The defense ranked #1 in the nation in points allowed, while the offense ranked #3 in points scored. The team set a record for consecutive home wins with 12 and broke numerous statistical records on offense and defense.
Individually, SIU had 16 players named to the all-conference team and three players (Elmer McDaniel, Alexis Moreland and Craig Coffin) have earned All-America status. Quarterback Joel Sambursky finished eighth in the voting for the Payton Award. Two more players (Brandon Jacobs and Terry Jackson) have been invited to postseason all-star games and will pursue a career in the National Football League.
Kill was adamant that the award be seen as a compilation of the hard work of his staff and team.
"I have to credit our players and our assistant coaches," he said. "Without them, none of this would be possible."
