Turner Gill facts for kids
Gill in 2006
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| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Executive director of student-athlete and staff development |
| Team | Arkansas |
| Conference | SEC |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | August 13, 1962 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1980–1983 | Nebraska |
| 1984–1985 | Montreal Concordes |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1989 | Nebraska (GA) |
| 1990 | North Texas (GA) |
| 1991 | SMU (WR) |
| 1992–2002 | Nebraska (QB) |
| 2003 | Nebraska (AHC) |
| 2004 | Nebraska (WR) |
| 2006–2009 | Buffalo |
| 2010–2011 | Kansas |
| 2012–2018 | Liberty |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 2005 | Green Bay Packers (dir. player development) |
| 2018–2019 | Liberty (EVP of diversity development & inclusion) |
| 2019–2020 | Arkansas (Dir. Student-Athlete and Staff Development) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 72–84 |
| Bowls | 0–1 |
| Tournaments | 1–1 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 MAC (2008) 2 MAC East Division (2007, 2008) 4 Big South co-champions (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016) |
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| Awards | |
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Turner Hillery Gill (born August 13, 1962) is an American sports leader and a former football player and coach. He currently works at the University of Arkansas. There, he helps student-athletes and staff grow and develop. He started this job in 2019.
Before this, Gill was a head football coach for several college teams. He led the University at Buffalo (2006–2009), the University of Kansas (2010–2011), and Liberty University (2012–2018). Throughout his coaching career, his teams won 72 games and lost 84. He was one of the few African-American head coaches in top college football at the time he joined Kansas.
Contents
Playing Career: A Star on the Field
Turner Gill was a talented athlete from Fort Worth, Texas. He played quarterback in high school and was very good. Many top colleges wanted him to play for them.
College Football: Nebraska's Quarterback
Gill chose to play for the University of Nebraska starting in 1980. He was allowed to play both football and baseball, which was a big reason he picked Nebraska.
In 1981, Gill became the starting quarterback for Nebraska. He helped turn their season around. The team went on an amazing winning streak. They won the Big Eight conference championship. Unfortunately, Gill got hurt late in the season. This injury kept him out of the important Orange Bowl game.
He came back strong in 1982. He led Nebraska to another Big Eight title. They finished with a great 12–1 record. During his senior year in 1983, Gill led one of the best offenses in college football history. They scored a lot of points in every game. Gill finished fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. This award goes to the best college football player. His teammate, Mike Rozier, won the award that year.
Nebraska almost won a national championship in 1984. They lost a very close game in the Orange Bowl. Overall, Gill had an impressive record as a starter. He won 28 games and lost only 2. He also helped Nebraska win three Big Eight championships in a row.
Professional Football: A Short Career
After college, Gill was not picked by any NFL teams. He decided to play in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Montreal Concordes. He played for two seasons, showing great potential.
However, his football career ended early. He suffered several head injuries, which doctors said were too serious for him to keep playing. He had to retire from football at just 23 years old.
Baseball: A Second Chance
Even though his football career ended, Turner Gill was also a talented baseball player. He had been drafted by major league baseball teams twice before. In 1986, he signed with the Cleveland Indians.
He played in their minor league system for three years. He played for teams like the Waterloo Indians and the Williamsport Bills. After three seasons, he decided to stop playing professional sports. He wanted to start a new career as a football coach.
Coaching Career: Leading Teams to Success
Turner Gill began his coaching journey in 1989. He returned to his old school, the University of Nebraska, as a coach.
Nebraska: Back Home
From 1992 to 2004, Gill coached quarterbacks and wide receivers at Nebraska. He helped develop amazing players, including two who won the Heisman Trophy. During his time as an assistant coach, Nebraska won three national championships.
Green Bay Packers: Helping Pros
In 2005, Gill joined the Green Bay Packers in the NFL. He worked as the Director of Player Development. His job was to help new players adjust to professional football. He also helped them with things like managing money and getting involved in the community.
Buffalo: Building a Program
In 2006, Turner Gill became the head coach at the University at Buffalo. The team had not been very successful before he arrived. Under his leadership, the Buffalo Bulls improved each year.
In 2007, the team had its first winning record in their conference. Gill was named the MAC Coach of the Year for this great improvement. In 2008, the Bulls had an amazing season. They won the MAC East Division and then beat a highly ranked team to win the overall MAC championship. This was a huge achievement for the school. They even played in their first-ever bowl game.
Kansas: A New Challenge
In 2009, Gill became the head coach for the University of Kansas football team. This was a big move, bringing him back to the Big 12 Conference. He was the first African-American head football coach in Kansas history.
His time at Kansas was challenging. The team struggled to win games. In 2010, they had a big upset win against #15 Georgia Tech. However, the team finished with a tough record. In 2011, they started well but then lost many games in a row. After two seasons, Gill left the Kansas team.
Liberty: Finding Success Again
In 2011, Gill became the head coach at Liberty University. His teams at Liberty found great success. In his first year, they won a share of the Big South championship. They continued to win conference titles in 2013, 2014, and 2016.
In 2014, the team made it to the second round of the FCS playoffs. In 2017, they had a big upset win against Baylor University. In 2018, Liberty became a top-tier FBS program. They finished the season with a 6–6 record.
On December 3, 2018, Turner Gill announced his retirement from coaching. He wanted to spend more time with his wife, Gayle, who had a heart condition.
Images for kids
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Gill in 2006
