Iceland12
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This is from a Facebook post from this morning. Gonna post the whole thing in case you're not on Facebook. It's an impressive story.
https://www.facebook.com/PhilMackeyRadio/posts/849257891843288
I just wanted to share a quick anecdote that shines a light on the leadership and generosity of Jerry Kill, who many of you probably heard say, “I will never step foot on the U of M campus ever again” on our radio show last week – a comment that rubbed a lot of Minnesota football fans the wrong way.
I ran into Jerry last night at a charity event benefitting the Prairie Care mental health group, which helps people of all ages who deal with depression, anxiety and/or other mental health issues (I have suffered from depression, which runs in my family, so this cause means a lot to me).
Jerry was the keynote speaker (he flew in from Kansas in the morning), and he captivated the room for 30 minutes – telling his story of mental and physical health problems, and inspiring people to check their egos at the door, which is something he admits he didn’t always do.
I don’t want to share too much, because this was a private event and Jerry was speaking to a dinner crowd, but many people probably don’t realize the transformation Kill has gone through over the past year. Jerry hit “rock bottom,” as he described it, when he was forced to step down from the University of Minnesota in 2015. In addition to his lengthy battle with epilepsy, Jerry also battled depression. He was sleeping 2.5 hours per night. He was overweight. And he was too proud to ask for and accept professional help.
Now, he meditates (!!), he eats clean, he is as slim as I’ve ever seen him, he’s full of energy, and he told the room, “Tough people get help when they need it.” He is excited to take on the role of offensive coordinator, because A.) it will allow him to maintain a much healthier lifestyle than head coaching would allow, and B.) it allows him to continue engaging in his passion of teaching and coaching football. He seems to have found a healthy balance.
At the end of the night – when the live auction was just about to wrap up – Jerry walked back up to the front of the room and said he had one more item to add to the auction. On the spot, he raised thousands more dollars by offering up field passes + Rutgers tickets + his own house in New York for lodging to the winning bidder.
Jerry Kill is an incredible leader, a generous human being, and someone who has the ability to admit when he is wrong or has made mistakes. I’ve always respected him, but I respect him even more after seeing his leadership and generosity in person last night.
Wishing him the best.
https://www.facebook.com/PhilMackeyRadio/posts/849257891843288
I just wanted to share a quick anecdote that shines a light on the leadership and generosity of Jerry Kill, who many of you probably heard say, “I will never step foot on the U of M campus ever again” on our radio show last week – a comment that rubbed a lot of Minnesota football fans the wrong way.
I ran into Jerry last night at a charity event benefitting the Prairie Care mental health group, which helps people of all ages who deal with depression, anxiety and/or other mental health issues (I have suffered from depression, which runs in my family, so this cause means a lot to me).
Jerry was the keynote speaker (he flew in from Kansas in the morning), and he captivated the room for 30 minutes – telling his story of mental and physical health problems, and inspiring people to check their egos at the door, which is something he admits he didn’t always do.
I don’t want to share too much, because this was a private event and Jerry was speaking to a dinner crowd, but many people probably don’t realize the transformation Kill has gone through over the past year. Jerry hit “rock bottom,” as he described it, when he was forced to step down from the University of Minnesota in 2015. In addition to his lengthy battle with epilepsy, Jerry also battled depression. He was sleeping 2.5 hours per night. He was overweight. And he was too proud to ask for and accept professional help.
Now, he meditates (!!), he eats clean, he is as slim as I’ve ever seen him, he’s full of energy, and he told the room, “Tough people get help when they need it.” He is excited to take on the role of offensive coordinator, because A.) it will allow him to maintain a much healthier lifestyle than head coaching would allow, and B.) it allows him to continue engaging in his passion of teaching and coaching football. He seems to have found a healthy balance.
At the end of the night – when the live auction was just about to wrap up – Jerry walked back up to the front of the room and said he had one more item to add to the auction. On the spot, he raised thousands more dollars by offering up field passes + Rutgers tickets + his own house in New York for lodging to the winning bidder.
Jerry Kill is an incredible leader, a generous human being, and someone who has the ability to admit when he is wrong or has made mistakes. I’ve always respected him, but I respect him even more after seeing his leadership and generosity in person last night.
Wishing him the best.
