Personally, I think he would be good and well-received anywhere. But, if he can get some world class facilities built, he has found a perfect fit in MN and can really entrench himself and do something special, with endless support from the community. That's nearly impossible to find.
He's got an unbelievable work ethic, he's very intelligent (while not coming off as arrogant or superior to those around him), he's resilient and humble. Very approachable, with a relaxed, shoot-the-breeze demeanor. Yet, he takes his role as a football coach, and his responsibility to mold disciplined young men (not only football players), both very seriously. I think that's a decent nutshell to cram it into.
Looking at the entire national landscape, I can't think of a single coach that is a better fit for Gopher fans' "Minnesotan sensibilities" than Jerry Kill. There may be coaches out there with bigger names, that are more flashy, and would turn this program around slightly faster, but none of them would do it in a way that garnered such respect and admiration from the people of MN.
He kind of embodies the essence of the hearty, self-sufficient, blue-collar, yet Minnesota nice and always-willing-to-help, disposition that you find in nearly all of out-state MN, and a good number of areas in the Metro. The kind of guy that you can envision as your favorite teacher in school oryour trusted lifelong neighbor. Basically, your average Minnesotan has no trouble identifying with this guy.
Great man. Inspirational in a genuine, gritty, spiritual and emotional way. Not an extorted, snythetic, industrial way like the Urban Meyers, Nick Sabans, or Steve Spurriers of the world. Great coach. Given a level playing field he's one of the best around. But, he'll never stoop to anyone else's standards, and he will always do it in a way in which he can go home and sleep at night. He tops the lists of "Coaches you would most want your son to play for," no matter who they are polling, for a reason.
We're witnessing a very rare display of competency, fierce competitiveness, and integrity. Drink it in, folks. If Kill keeps it up, his head will be prominantly placed on the Gophers Athletics Mount Rushmore. He's very close to taking this thing to the next level, and he's doing it in a way that maintains integrity of the University. After all, as alumni/students/well-rounded and educated citizens of MN, do we really want to turn into a meathead dog and pony show like and SEC schools, Ohio State, or Florida State? I know I don't.
