New Mexico State Head Football Coach Jerry Kill Will Step Down

After engineering one of college football's most impressive turnarounds in recent memory, Jerry Kill will step down as the head coach of the New Mexico State

© Meg Potter/Sun-News / USA TODAY NETWORK

After engineering one of college football's most impressive turnarounds in recent memory, Jerry Kill will step down as the head coach of the New Mexico State Aggies. 

Kill took over at New Mexico State prior to the start of the 2022 season. In both of Kill's seasons in Las Cruces, the Aggies had winning seasons and reached a bowl game. Kill compiled a 17-11 record in that time. The Aggies were 10-5 in 2023 and reached the CUSA championship game in their first year in the league. 

Under Kill, the Aggies reached back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 1959 and 1960. 

New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill is stepping down after 2 seasons, sources confirm to KTSM. Wide receivers coach Tony Sanchez is expected to take over for him. @PeteThamel first.

— Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaverTV) December 23, 2023

More on Jerry Kill leaving New Mexico State per sources: feeling worn down a bit of a factor here, but it didn’t affect the last 2 years where Kill was still basically at the top of his game. NMSU boosters managed to raise extra money for increased salary, but Kill turned it down

— Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaverTV) December 23, 2023

NMSU AD Mario Moccia speaking with the media today on Jerry Kill’s departure from NMSU after two seasons.

Moccia said Kill was offered a new, $1.1 million contract on Dec. 19. Two days later, Kill turned down the offer and said he’d be stepping down.

— Sam Guzman (@SamGuzmanTV) December 23, 2023

An exact reason for the decision has not yet been released. Kill has a history of medical issues. In 2015, Kill resigned as the head football coach at Minnesota due to said medical issues. Kill is a cancer survivor and suffers from epileptic seizures. Kill took time away from the team in the early part of the 2023 season due to an undisclosed medical situation.

Multiple outlets have confirmed that Tony Sanchez will take over as the team's next head coach. Sanchez was a member of Kill's staff as the wide receivers coach. Sanchez was previously the head coach at UNLV from 2015 through 2019.