SIU's Kill is Northern Illinois' new football coach

Southern Illinois coach Jerry Kill will be introduced as Northern Illinois' 20th head football coach today at rallies in both DeKalb and Chicago.

Former Iowa State coach Dan McCarney also received serious consideration for the job as Joe Novak's successor.

Kill, 46, who just led the Salukis to the Football Championship Series semifinals, produced a 55-32 record in his seven years in Carbondale.

He took a program that hadn't enjoyed a winning season since 1991 and rebuilt it into a big winner in his third year at the helm.

SIU won at least a share of three consecutive Gateway Conference titles and earned five straight Division I-AA playoff berths.

One might say Kill had two on-the-job interviews with NIU athletic director Jim Phillips prior to Novak's retirement.

Kill's Salukis, despite having 22 fewer scholarships at their disposal, dropped a 23-22 decision at Huskie Stadium in 2004 as they missed a last-minute 2-point conversion.

This year, SIU finished the job as the Salukis defeated NIU 34-31 on Sept. 8. That gave Kill as many wins at Huskie Stadium this year as the Huskies.