Jim Gilstrap (coach)

Jim Gilstrap

Biographical details
Born	(1942-05-11)May 11, 1942 South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Died	July 19, 2007(2007-07-19) (aged 65) Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.
Playing career
1961–1963	Western Michigan
Position(s)	Center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1964	Southern Illinois (DL)
1965–1966	Western Reserve (OL)
1967–1968	Edinboro State (DL)
1969–1974	Illinois State (OL)
1977	Kansas State (OL)
1978–1980	Western Michigan (OL)
1981–1983	Fort Hays State
1984	Saskatchewan Roughriders (DC)
1985–1986	Saskatchewan Roughriders (OL)
1987–1989	Toronto Argonauts (OB/WR)
1990	Winnipeg Blue Bombers (OL)
1991–1992	San Antonio Riders (OL)
1993	Toronto Argonauts (OL)
1995–1996	Ottawa Rough Riders
1996	Hamilton Tiger-Cats (OL)
1997–1998	Oregon State (assistant HC/OL)
1999	Linfield (assistant)
2000–2001	Tulsa (OC/RB)
2002	Southwest Mississippi (OC/QB/WR)
2003–2004	Oregon State (OL)
2005	Oregon State (RB)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1999	Linfield (assistant AD)
Head coaching record
Overall	20–11–1 (college) 3–17 (CFL)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
78th Grey Cup

Jim Gilstrap (May 11, 1942 – July 19, 2007) was an American football and Canadian football coach. He had 42-year coaching career, including two as head coach of the Ottawa Rough Riders and ten as an assistant to Mike Riley.

Career

Gilstrap began coaching in 1964 after graduating from Western Michigan University, coaching the defensive line at Southern Illinois University. From 1965 to 1966, he was the offensive line coach at Case Western. From 1967 to 1968, he was defensive line coach at Edinboro State. In 1969, he began a six-year tenure as Illinois State's offensive line coach. He then served as offensive line coach with the Kansas State Wildcats in 1977 and with the Western Michigan Broncos from 1978 to 1980.

From 1981 to 1983, Gilstrap was the head coach at Fort Hays State. He compiled a 20–11–1 record with the Tigers and ranks eighth on the wins list at FHSU. His .645 winning percentage is third best in school history among coaches to coach more than one season. His 1983 team, went 8–3, which ties for the most wins in a single season at FHSU. Gilstrap was also head wrestling coach at FHSU during the 1980–81 season.

He began coaching professionally in 1984 as a defensive coach with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. From 1987 to 1989, he was the offensive backs and receivers coach with the Toronto Argonauts. In 1990 he was hired to coach the offensive line of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers under head coach Mike Riley. The team finished 12–6 and won the 78th Grey Cup.

He moved with Riley the following season to coach the WLAF's San Antonio Riders. In 1993 he followed Riley to the CFL's expansion San Antonio Texans. However, the team folded before the season started it when ran out of money.

In 1995 CFL season Gilstrap received his first and only professional head coaching position when he was hired by the Ottawa Rough Riders. The team finished 3–15 and missed the playoffs. He was fired the following season after a 0–2 start (and losing both preseason games). He finished the rest of the year as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats offensive line coach.

Starting in 1997 Gilstrap was OSU's offensive line coach and assistant head coach under Mike Riley. When Riley left for the San Diego Chargers. He moved to Linfield where he served as an assistant athletic director and assistant football coach during the 1999 season. In 2000, he moved to Tulsa as coach Keith Burns' offensive coordinator and running backs coach. He spent the 2002 season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks/wide receivers coach at Southwest Mississippi Community College. In 2003, he returned to OSU, once again as Mike Riley's offensive line coach. During his second tenure he also served as running backs coach and as coordinator of support services. While at Oregon State, Gilstrap coached postseason honors recipients Yvenson Bernard, Doug Nienhuis, Adam Koets, Roy Schuening, and Aaron Koch.

Head coaching record

College

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Fort Hays State Tigers (Central States Intercollegiate Conference) (1981–1983)
1981	Fort Hays State	6–5	3–4	T–4th
1982	Fort Hays State	6–3–1	4–2–1	4th
1983	Fort Hays State	8–3	4–3	T–3rd
Fort Hays State:		20–11–1	11–9–1
Total:		20–11–1

CFL

Team	Year	Regular season					Post season
		Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Result
OTT	1995	3	15	0	.167	Last in North Division	Did not qualify
OTT	1996	0	2	0	.000	Last in East Division	Fired before end of season
Total		3	17	0	.150		0	0

References

• "Jim Gilstrap Passes Away". Oregon State Sports Information. July 20, 2007. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2008.
• "OSU assistant coach dies". The News-Review. July 20, 2007. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
• McRae, Earl (July 22, 2007). "He dared to dream". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved December 19, 2008.