COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SIU PROGRAM HIRES KILL AS HEAD COACH

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Jerry Kill, Southern Illinois' new football coach, showed Thursday he can knock 'em dead -- with his wit, at least.

"If you think that I cannot recruit, you can look at my wife," Kill, a balding 39-year-old with his wife at his side, told reporters. "If I can talk her into marrying me, I sure in the heck can put a good football team together here at Southern Illinois."

Kill, who was 11-11 in two years at Kansas' Emporia State and 38-14 previously in five years at Michigan's Saginaw Valley State, signed a five-year contract with a base salary of $90,000.

Kill was 25-1 in two seasons at Webb City High School in Missouri, winning a Class 4A state championship. He began his college career as offensive coordinator at Pittsburg State in Kansas under Dennis Franchione, Alabama's new head coach.