Former Southern Illinois football coach Jerry Kill is taking over the athletics department, effective immediately.
SIU Carbondale chancellor Carlo Montemagno made the move Thursday after deciding not to renew athletic director Tommy Bell's contract, which expires next month. Montemagno said it is time "to make a change in leadership that will help the program fulfill its potential."
Kill's oversight of the department will begin immediately. He is not the interim athletic director, the school said, but is adding oversight of athletics to his duties.
Kill coached at SIU from 2001 until 2007, leading the Salukis to a 55-32 record, five straight FCS title games and three straight Gateway Conference championships.