Border War Casualty: KU Fires Football Coach

The University of Kansas’ athletic department announced Sunday afternoon football coach Turner Gill “has been relieved of his duties as head football coach at the University of Kansas.”

The announcement, posted on the university’s official athletics department website, quoted Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger as the source of the information.

“After a thorough evaluation of our football program,” Zenger said, “I have concluded that new leadership is necessary to place us on the path toward competing for championships in the Big 12 Conference. I come to this conclusion reluctantly, because I have the utmost respect forTurner Gill as a quality individual who wants only the best for the young men he coaches.”

Gill coached the Jayhawks for two seasons, and was fired with three years remaining on his five-year, $10 million contract. Kansas’ football team won only five games in Gill’s two seasons, and was outscored 59-17 in the Jayhawks’ two games against Missouri.

Kansas held a 10-3 halftime lead against Missouri yesterday before allowing the Tigers to score 21 unanswered points en route to a 24-10 victory. The victory gave Missouri the undisputed lead in the Border War series, which Zenger has previously said Kansas will not continue when Missouri moves to the Southeastern Conference.

Kansas’ announcement said the current coaching staff “will continue to recruit under the direction of” recruiting coordinator and interim head coach Reggie Mitchell while Zenger searches for a new coach.