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University of Minnesota Athletics
Blog: Coach Kill Speaks at North Community YMCA
2/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
The North Community YMCA Youth and Teen Enrichment Center held an installment of its Business Leadership Speaker Series Wednesday. More than 250 people piled into the YMCA's gymnasium to hear Gopher head football coach Jerry Kill serve as the keynote speaker, along with WCCO sports anchor Mark Rosen.
The North Community YMCA is the only YMCA location in the entire nation devoted solely to youth and teens. Hundreds of children from the North Minneapolis area pour into the center every day to take part in numerous programs, get a nutritious meal, get academic tutoring and the list of benefits goes on and on.
Wednesday's event was a chance for Coach Kill to introduce himself to the local community and to help raise money for the North Community YMCA. Coach Kill was happy to take part in the event, saying that he understood many of the young people who spend time at the Y, because he grew up with very little and he knows how much someone taking an interest in the lives of young people can make a difference.
"I grew up in a small town," Kill said. "Both my mother and father worked very hard. I didn't grow up with a lot. But I grew up with good parents and a good background. It's great to have all you people come out and support what you're doing here today. It's not about the wins and losses in a football game. For coaches and teachers and people of that nature, it's the wins and losses you have with kids. That's what really matters at the end of the day. I compliment you and the tremendous efforts you're giving here. If it wasn't for the mentors and coaches in my life, I wouldn't be sitting here in front of you today."
Coach Kill's message clearly resonated with those in attendance at Wednesday's luncheon. Former Vikings punter and current Vikings radio analyst Greg Coleman was among those in attendance. He came away very impressed with Coach Kill.
"There's a genuine quality with this person," Coleman said. "There's a sweet soul as we used to say down south. He reminds me a lot of some of the same characteristics of our current Vikings coach Leslie Frazier. I think they're cut from the same cloth. Nobody gave them a whole lot, didn't expect a whole lot. But they pulled themselves up by the bootstraps and took advantage and made the best of whatever situation that it was.
"The most important thing I heard about Coach is about him caring for people," Coleman continued. "The coaches that have been with him for all these years, that tells you something about a relationship. Success is always about relationships. If Coach can continue to master those, I think he's going to be a great success. Let me tell you something. If I had a son that was coming up, there is no question he's the kind of coach I would want my son to have. Not only is he a great coach, he's a great man and mentor. With what he's instilling in young people ... I think he's going to be a success."
Director of the North Community YMCA Board of Directors Reg Chapman said he thought the message was well-received and his organization was happy to have Coach Kill appear.
"I think people were just excited to see him and hear him," Chapman said. "The fact that would come to North Minneapolis says a lot that he's going to be available and accessible to people in this community. We were honored to have Coach Kill here today. He does come from humble beginnings and he is what we epitomize as far as leadership in our community. He really has a lot of young people's lives in his hands. He has the commitment to success. We like that. We wanted to show that here, so he could introduce himself to the community."
For more information about the North Community YMCA and how you can help this unique program, visit www.YMCATwinCities.org. The center can be reached via phone at 612.588.9484.
-By Andy Seeley, Associate Director of Athletic Communications
