Minnesota coach Jerry Kill and the university announced Thursday that he will be taking time off for treatment of his epilepsy. and was unable to coach the team in its game against Michigan.Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys, whos been on Kills staff Brandon McCarthy Jersey for 19 seasons, will be the teams acting head coach."This was a difficult decision to make, but the right decision," Kill said in a statement distributed by the university. "Our staff has been together a long time and I have full confidence in coach Claeys and them during my time away. Every decision that will be made will be in the best interest of the players and the program. I look forward to returning to the Minnesota sideline on a full-time basis soon."Kill and the bulk of his a sistants have been together longer than any staff in the country, and they'll lean on that continuity and familiarity now more than ever."As a staff we are all happy he's made this decision Max Fried Jersey to do this," Claeys said. "We support him 100 percent. We will represent him well ... for however long it is."The Gophers are off this week and play Oct. 19 at Northwestern."My wife Rebecca, myself and our two daughters want to thank everyone for their prayers and concerns during the last few weeks, Kill said in a statement. This was a difficult decision to make, but the right decision. Our staff has been together a long time and I have full confidence in Coach Claeys and them during my time away. Every decision that will be made will be in the best interest of the players and the program. I look forward to returning to the Minnesota sideline on a full-time basis soon."Athletic director Norwood Teague offered his John Smoltz Jersey support.Coach Kill will remain in very close contact with the team and his staff and provide direction and support as needed, Teague said in a statement. Our support for Coach Kill is unwavering and we look forward to his return to full-time coaching duties."This is a great group of student-athletes under the guidance of one of the longest-tenured and most respected staffs in college football, and there is no doubt in my mind that they will continue to move this program Adam Duval Jersey forward and make us proud."Minnesota is 4-2 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten, losing its last two games to Iowa and Michigan."There is no time frame here," Teague said. "Jerry will return when he feels it is best to do so."Players were unavailable for comment because the team is on the bye. Claeys and Teague met with David Justice Jersey the team to inform them of Kill's decision on Thursday afternoon, about an hour before a scheduled practice."Obviously, they're concerned about him and all that," Claeys said. "The one thing about the players is we make sure they always know things first. A lot of them have been texting him and (his wife) Rebecca. I let them know that they very much appreciate that. They'll stay in touch with him that way."The A sociated Pre s contributed to this report.