Jerry Kill’s Departure from New Mexico State Football

Jerry Kill, the head coach of New Mexico State’s football team, has decided to step down from his position, according to sources from ESPN. Kill’s decision came in recent days, and the school has already found an internal replacement in Tony Sanchez, the former head coach of UNLV.

Under Kill’s leadership, New Mexico State experienced a remarkable turnaround in the last decade. In his two years as head coach, the team achieved a record of 17-11, including back-to-back bowl appearances and a 10-5 season in 2023, which marked the school’s first double-digit win season since 1960.

Jerry Kill is a seasoned head coach with a history of coaching at various institutions, including Minnesota, Northern Illinois, and Southern Illinois. He has also worked as an administrator and an assistant coach at Rutgers, Virginia Tech, and TCU.

Tony Sanchez, the newly appointed head coach, is a former successful high school coach from the Las Vegas area. He served as UNLV’s head coach from 2015 to 2019, where he achieved a win-loss record of 20-40. Sanchez’s tenure at UNLV is remembered for the significant off-field improvements in facilities and support, which helped modernize the program.

New Mexico State has faced some challenges in recent times, as they have lost both their offensive coordinator, Tim Beck, and their defensive backs coach, Cliff Odom, since their loss to Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl on December 16. The appointment of Tony Sanchez as the new head coach aims to maintain continuity and momentum within the team and the program.

In conclusion, Jerry Kill’s departure from New Mexico State’s football team marks the end of an era, but the appointment of Tony Sanchez as the new head coach brings hope for continued success and growth for the program.