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Minnesota Coach Jerry Kill On Leave For Epilepsy

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota coach Jerry Kill has taken an open-ended leave of absence from the team to focus on treatment and management of his epilepsy.

The university announced the decision Thursday, before a scheduled news conference with athletic director Norwood Teague and defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys.

Kill had to miss the last game at Michigan when he suffered a seizure at home that morning and was unable to travel with the team. The Gophers don't play this week, but his availability for the Oct. 19 game at Northwestern is now in doubt. Claeys is the acting head coach.

Kill said in a statement distributed by the university that "this was a difficult decision but the right decision." He has had five seizures on game days.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

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