MONROE, La. -ULM football head
coach Todd Berry announced on Friday the hiring of 21-year coaching veteran Tony
Gilbert to coach the Warhawk cornerbacks. His hire is pending final approval by
the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.
Gilbert joins the ULM coaching
staff following a successful nine-year career at conference foe Arkansas State
where he served as the recruiting coordinator in addition to coaching to
cornerbacks.
"I have known Tony for a long,
long time so there is a huge trust level for me in terms of the quality of the
coach and the quality of the person," Berry said. "His maturity is going to add
a lot to our secondary. Tony's personality and chemistry are not only going to
blend in nicely with our current players, but also with recruits, so we are
extremely excited for him to be a part of this staff."
During Gilbert's reign as
Arkansas State's recruiting coordinator, four Red Wolves signed NFL contracts,
including safety Tyrell Johnson who was selected in the second round of the
2008 NFL Draft.
The Red Wolves ranked 12th
in the NCAA in 2006 in pass defense and were ninth in passes intercepted with
Gilbert coaching the cornerbacks.
His 2008 and 2009 units helped Arkansas Sate rank second in the Sun Belt in
pass defense.
Gilbert coached six All-Sun Belt players during his tenure
at Arkansas State in addition to coaching the 2002 Sun Belt Conference Newcomer
of the Year in Jonathan Burke.
Before joining the Arkansas State staff in January of 2002,
Gilbert served as the assistant head coach at Central Arkansas and in
addition to coaching the wide receivers. In 2001, Central Arkansas finished
with a record of 9-3 and earned the school's first-ever trip to the NCAA
Division II Playoffs.
Prior to his stint with the Bears, Gilbert was the defensive
coordinator at Southern Arkansas under former Arkansas State head coach Steve
Roberts for three seasons. The Muleriders had the 19th best defense
and the 12th best passing defense in nation in 1999.
He began his coaching career at his alma mater Southwest
Missouri State as a graduate assistant in 1990. Gilbert was hired as a
full-time assistant in 1992 and coached the running backs for four seasons.
Under his direction, SMSU turned out four consecutive 1,000-yard rushers.
An all-conference pick at running back at SMSU, Gilbert
helped his team to a 1989 Gateway Conference championship. He was named
all-conference in 1986 and 1989 and was SMSU's all-time leading kick returner.
Following graduation in 1989, he signed a free agent contract with the New
York Giants in 1991.
He received his master's degree in communication from
Southwest Missouri State in 1998.
Gilbert is married to the
former Regina Kuykendall and the couple has two children, Jacqueline, who
attended St. Louis University on a basketball scholarship, and Tony II.
The Warhawks will go through
spring practice from March 10 through April 6 and will hold their Maroon &
Gold Spring Game on April 9. After the first week, the Warhawks will practice
every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Malone Stadium. All practices in the
spring will be open to the public and start at 4:15 p.m.
