Kill not ruling out return to job Saturday

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois football coach Jerry Kill, who remained hospitalized Wednesday after suffering a seizure during last weekend's game, has not ruled out a possible return to the sidelines for Saturday's game.

"He's getting better and feeling stronger, and his condition is really improving each day. His prognosis is good," said Tom Weber, the school's sports information director.

Though no date has been set for Kill to be released from the hospital, Weber said "he's not ruling out the possibility that he could coach on Saturday," when the Salukis play at Indiana State.

The 44-year-old Kill, who has a medical condition that occasionally manifests itself with seizures, collapsed in the closing seconds of the Salukis' 61-35 home loss last Saturday to Illinois State.

He was transferred Monday from Carbondale Memorial Hospital to a St. Louis hospital for additional tests. Weber said those tests were continuing.

Kill's family has requested that the name of the hospital where he is being treated not be released.

In Kill's absence, the Salukis (4-2, 2-1 Gateway) have been led by defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys and offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover.

SIU fell from No. 1 to No. 10 in the Division I-AA rankings with the loss.