DAVE CAMPBELL, AP Sports Writers
JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Sports Writers

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota coach Jerry Kill says he is retiring because of health reasons.

Kill, a Cheney, Kansas native made the surprise announcement on Wednesday morning, one day after missing a scheduled meeting with the media. Kill has epilepsy, and had to take a leave of absence from the team in 2013 while dealing with seizures.

Kill was 156-102 in coaching career and 29-29 at Minnesota.

Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys, who has worked with Kill for the last 21 years, has been named interim head coach.

The Golden Gophers host Michigan on Saturday night.

Kill was the head coach at Emporia (Kan.) State for two seasons in 1999-2000. He went 11-11 with the Hornets, who play at the NCAA Division II level. Prior to Emporia State, Kill was the head coach at NCAA Division II member Saginaw Valley State from 1994-1998. He compiled a 38-14 record with the Cardinals.

Kill served as defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator in two different stops at Pittsburg (Kan.) State University. He helped lead the Gorillas to three NAIA playoff appearances as the defensive coordinator from 1985-87. Kill returned to Pitt State as the offensive coordinator from 1990-93. In that four-year span, the Gorillas advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs four times, reaching the championship game twice and winning the 1991 national title.

Sandwiched between his stints at Pittsburg State, Kill was the head coach at Webb City (Mo.) High School. He was 25-1 in two seasons at Webb City and won a state championship in 1989.

Kill played college football at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas