Student vs. teacher: TCU’s Jerry Kill used to coach, teach OSU’s Mike Gundy in high school

A young Mike Gundy stopped and stared at the clock.

Class at Midwest City High School was a drag for the junior quarterback, so he eagerly waited until he could finally strap his football pads on at 2:30. His biology teacher and coach, Jerry Kill, was excited too.

These two went through a lot together, but they couldn’t have predicted what would happen 37 years later. Gundy and Kill, who recently took over as TCU’s interim head coach, will coach against each other this Saturday when the Horned Frogs visit the Cowboys.

“He and I had been able to stay in touch over the years, and he’s done a lot in his career, been a lot of places,” Gundy said. “But, he’s an old-school tough guy that I’ve always had a lot of respect for and what he’s been able to accomplish.”

Gundy said Kill’s “old-school” style was around in high school too. According to Kill, a big part of his early coaching success was because of Gundy.

“Great competitor,” Kill said of Gundy’s play in high school. “He was a guy that just found a way to win. That’s pretty much how he does in coaching. He finds ways to win.”

Kill’s meeting against Gundy’s Cowboys will be his first time meeting against Gundy as a head coach. While usual jitters may be present, both have tremendous respect for each other.

“Very well-respected in our profession and certainly by me, and I’m glad that good things are still happening to him,” Gundy said.

“Last year we talked before the game and so forth,” said Kill. “Just like anything else, we all go to work and so forth. I’ve got a great respect — he knows that. He’s got a great football team. He really does.”

TCU is now 4-5 after stunning Baylor last week for Kill’s first win as a Division I head coach since 2015. Kill replaced Gary Patterson, who was at TCU since 2000, two weeks ago. While it may seem tough to string wins with an interim coach, Gundy called Kill a “motivator” and said TCU is doing a good job lately.

“They played very inspired football,” Gundy said. “They’re still athletic. They still run. They’re fast on defense. They have running backs, wideouts can make plays.”

Aside from football though, Gundy said he probably should have tried harder in Mr. Kill’s biology class.

“I wasn’t as good a student as I should have been,” Gundy said.