New Mexico State’s Jerry Kill Stepping Down After 10-Win Season, per Report

The Aggies had a historic 2023 punctuated by a huge late-season upset.

In the wake of one of the best football seasons in its history, New Mexico State is bidding its coach farewell.

Aggies coach Jerry Kill is stepping down, according to a Saturday afternoon report from Pete Thamel of ESPN. Kill, 62, was in his second season with the program.

In 2023, New Mexico State put together a highly successful first year in Conference USA. The Aggies went 10–5, highlighted by a stunning 31–10 victory at Auburn on Nov. 18; it was the program's first 10-win season since 1960.

Kill previously coached at Division II Saginaw Valley State, D-II Emporia State, Southern Illinois, Northern Illinois, Minnesota and TCU. He led the Salukis to five FCS playoff berths and the Huskies and Golden Gophers to three bowl games apiece.

Sources: Jerry Kill is stepping down as head coach at New Mexico State. The school is expected to name former UNLV head coach Tony Sanchez the new head coach.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 23, 2023

Per Thamel, former UNLV boss Tony Sanchez will replace Kill. Sanchez went 20–40 in five years with the Rebels from 2015 to ’19. He served as the Aggies’ wide receivers coach under Kill.

Kill could potentially move into an off-field role with Vanderbilt, according to a report from 247Sports‘s Matt Zenitz.

Heading to Vanderbilt in an off-field role is a possible next step for Jerry Kill, sources tell @chris_hummer and me. Kill, who was previously a head coach at Minnesota and a staffer at places like TCU, Virginia Tech and Rutgers, won 17 games in his two years at New Mexico State. https://t.co/bh1qCw0oyz

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 23, 2023

The Aggies, who went 7–6 in Kill’s first year in 2022, ended their season on Dec. 16 with a 37–10 loss to Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl.