NIU to pick interim coach ahead of bowl game

DeKALB — Northern Illinois expects to quickly pick an interim head coach to oversee preparations for its Dec. 18 bowl game against Fresno State.

Athletic director Jeff Compher said Monday that the school, however, is in no hurry to find a permanent replacement for Jerry Kill, the new coach at Minnesota.

Northern Illinois (10-3) will play Fresno State (8-4) in the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho. Compher would like to have an interim coach in place soon.

"I'm hoping to decide that relatively soon," he said. "I'll meet with our assistants sometime early (Tuesday) and hope to have that wrapped up soon thereafter."

The 49-year-old Kill, who compiled a 23-16 record and made three bowl appearances at Northern Illinois, was picked as Minnesota's new head coach on Sunday.

Along with Kill's abrupt departure was a possibility that some assistant coaches may also leave.

"We would love for them to stay and coach the bowl," Compher said. "I think both the team and the coaching staff have earned that opportunity. But they're going to have to make those decision as the opportunities present themselves from coach Kill."

Compher said he suspected that Kill might be targeted after successes at Northern Illinois and earlier at Southern Illinois.

"When you've got a 10-win team and you've done a turnaround from 2-10, I figured that we'd have a lot of interest in Jerry," Compher said. "Not just for what he's done at Northern, but for where he was at every stop along the way. All he's done is win."