Gophers head coach Jerry Kill named Regional Coach of the Year

Jul 24, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Gophers head coach Jerry Kill speaks during the Big Ten media day at the Chicago Hilton. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Third-year Gophers head coach Jerry Kill received a Regional Coach of the Year award from the American Football Coaches Association on Tuesday.

In a year in which he led Minnesota to eight wins in the regular season, Kill was one of five coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision to receive the award. Along with Kill was Jimbo Fisher of Florida State, Gary Pinkel of Missouri, Art Briles of Baylor and David Shaw of Stanford.

It’s Kill’s third Regional Coach of the Year award, as he was also bestowed with the honor in 2003 and 2004 as the head coach of Southern Illinois.

Because of his regional award. Kill will also have a chance to win National Coach of the Year at the AFCA banquet in Indianapolis on Jan. 14.