Jerry Kill Named Big Ten Coach of the Year!!!

The Big Ten announced Tuesday night that Jerry Kill was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year!  Kill did several things at Minnesota this season that had not been done in a very long time.

#Gophers 8-4 this year, 8-5 last year. Under Kill Gophers have won eight games in back-to-back seasons for only the fifth time since 1906.

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) December 2, 2014

Under Kill, #Gophers beat Michigan and Iowa for first time since 1967. Scored 31 straight points at Mich and 51 straight vs Iowa.

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) December 2, 2014

The Gophers were predicted to finish fifth in the Big Ten West, yet finished second, just one loss to Wisconsin away from winning the West and playing in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Kill is the first Gopher coach to win the Big Ten Coach of the Year award since Glen Mason won it in 1999.

Kill also will be rewarded from the University for winning the award:

Under Kill's current contract, Kill earns a $50,000 bonus for being named Big Ten COY. Already earned $50K bonus for 5 B1G wins this yr

— Nate Sandell (@NSandell) December 2, 2014

Hopefully Kill and the Gophers can keep the positive momentum going through their bowl game which will be announced Sunday night, and into the 2015 season.  Congrats to Coach Kill and the entire Gopher Program!