Co-Defensive Coordinator Linebackers
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Coaches WASHINGTON Coaches Head Coach Keith Gilbertson A well-respected coach in the Pacific Northwest for more than 20 years, when Washington won Keith Gilbertson was named the head football coach at Washington on July the national champion- 29. The Husky job is Gilbertson’s third stint as a head college coach. ship. The 1991 Washing- The 2003 season will be the ninth year of coaching at Washington for ton team led the Pac-10 Gilbertson. He is currently in his third term of service with the Husky in total offense, rushing program. He was a graduate assistant coach in 1975, an assistant coach offense and scoring of- from 1989-91 and again from 1999-2002. fense, relying on a bal- Gilbertson becomes the 24th coach in the program’s history. At age 55, anced attack he is the oldest individual to be named Washington’s head coach. Gilbertson In 2002, that offense replaces Rick Neuheisel, who was terminated by on June 12 after guiding was the most potent the Huskies to a 33-16 record over the past four seasons. passing attack ever seen Gilbertson’s previous head coaching experience includes stints at Idaho not only at Washington, (1986-88) and California (1992-95). He has a combined record of 48-35 at but in the Pac-10. Junior those two schools over seven seasons. quarterback Cody Pickett Gilbertson has been the Huskies’ offensive coordinator the last three smashed the Pac-10 seasons. He was also a graduate assistant coach at the UW in 1976, as record for single-season offensive line coach in 1998-90 and as the offensive coordinator in the passing yardage and national championship season of 1991. In 1999, he returned to Washington completions while the as assistant head coach and tight ends coach before being named offensive UW threw for 4,501 yards as a team, breaking the old Pac-10 record by 712 coordinator prior to the 2000 season. yards. In his two terms as the UW’s offensive coordinator, Gilbertson built a In 2001, with a sophomore Pickett taking over the signalcalling, the reputation for varied and potent offenses. Gilbertson was instrumental in Husky offense was second in the Pac-10 in passing, averaging 279.5 yards developing Washington’s offense into one of the most explosive in the per game. A year earlier, behind senior quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo, nation between 1989 and 1991. He was the Huskies’ offensive line coach UW’s option-oriented rushing attack led the Pac-10 and was 16th nationally. his first two seasons and took over as the offensive coordinator in 1991 The Huskies’ ability to come from behind in the fourth quarter helped UW to the Pac-10 title and the 2001 Rose Bowl Championship. Gilbertson began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Idaho State (1971-74) and earned a degree in education from Western Washing- ton, where he was a grad assistant in 1975. After serving the 1976 season as a grad assistant at Washington for Don James, he was the offensive coordinator at Utah State from 1977 to 1981. In 1982 he joined Dennis Erickson’s staff at Idaho for one season as the offensive coordinator. The Vandals recorded an 8-3 regular-season record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA I-AA playoffs. For three seasons, from 1983-85, he coached in the USFL for the Los Angeles Express. He returned to Idaho in 1985 as the offensive coordinator and helped the Vandals to a 9-2 regular-season record and another trip to the NCAA playoffs. The following season he took over as Idaho’s head coach when Erickson was named head coach at Washington State. Gilbertson led the Vandals to an 11-2 record in 1988, the best mark in school history. That year Idaho advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA semifinals and he was named the Big Sky Conference coach of the year. His 1987 and 1988 teams both won the Big Sky championships. His .757 career winning percentage is still the highest in Idaho history. His three Vandal teams produced a combined record of 28-9 and advanced to the I-AA playoffs all three seasons. When he left Idaho his winning percentage (.757) ranked as the second best mark in the history of the Big Sky Conference. His winning percentage of .826 in conference games (19-4) was the best in league history. After working on James’ staff at Washington from 1989-91, Gilbertson left the Huskies following the team’s 1991 national championship season to take over as the head coach at California. His four-year stint as the Golden Bears’ coach was highlighted by the 1993 team that posted a 9-4 record and defeated Iowa 37-3 in the Alamo Bowl. That win stands as California’s last bowl victory. Gilbertson was also the last Cal coach to pin a loss on arch rival Stanford until 2002. Following his head coaching tenure at California, Gilbertson worked as an assistant coach for the Seattle Seahawks on Erickson’s staff for three seasons. In 1996 he served as a defensive specialist and took over as the 78 Coaches HUSKIES Coaches tight ends coach for the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Gilbertson grew up in Snohomish, Wash., where his father, Keith, Sr., What They’re Saying About has been a long-time prep coach. He attended Snohomish High School before going on to play football at Central Washington in 1967, Columbia Keith Gilbertson Basin Junior College in 1968, and Hawaii from 1969-70. He later returned to earn his bachelor’s degree in social sciences from “Those who know Gilbertson call him a players’ coach and a great motivator. Central Washington in 1971. Gilbertson earned a degree in education from They say he fosters a sense of family with his players, but never lets them Western Washington in 1974. forget that he is the patriarch. He is a patient listener who doesn’t have to Born in Snohomish on May 15, 1948, he attended Snohomish High scream at players to make his point. And for his fair treatment, the players School. Gilbertson and his wife, Barbara, were married in 1988 and have respond by playing their hearts out for him.” two children, Kristin and David. Gilbertson also has an adult daughter, Ann, – Gary Nelson, Everett Herald who resides in Los Angeles. “He does a good job remembering what it’s like being a player. If you go out Keith Gilbertson’s Head Coaching Career and do your best - that’s all he expects. If you can do that for him, he’s happy.” Year School Overall Conf. Finish – Ed Cunningham, former Husky Center 1986 Idaho 8-4 5-2 3rd Big Sky 1987 Idaho 9-3 7-1 1st Big Sky “He’s a down-to-earth, easy-going kind of guy whose unpretentious manner 1988 Idaho 11-2 7-1 1st Big Sky makes him a hit with his players and peers. He has earned their respect and 1992 California 4-7 2-6 9th Pac-10 praise.” 1993 California 9-4 4-4 tie-4th Pac-10 – Gary Nelson, Everett Herald 1994 California 4-7 3-5 tie-5th Pac-10 1995 California 3-8 2-6 tie-8th Pac-10 “One of his strengths is his ability to communicate with the players. A lot of Idaho Totals 28-9 (.757) 19-4 (.826) coaches have great knowledge and expertise, but don’t seem to get that California Totals 20-26 (.435) 11-21 (.344) across to the players as well as guys like Keith. The players sense that Keith Career Totals 48-37 (.565) 30-25 (.545) really cares for them and is on their side trying to help them, and they respond in a big way.” – Skip Hall, former Husky assistant coach The Gilbertson File “When Keith Gilbertson was hired as an assistant coach after the 1988 Personal season, the Washington Huskies were the second-best college football Birthplace: Snohomish, Wash. team in the state. Three years later, the Huskies, ranked No. 3 in the nation, Birthdate: May 15, 1948 are contending for the national championship. The innovative Gilbertson, Family: Wife Barbara and children Ann, Kristin and David. has had a lot to do with Washington’s success.” Education – Jim Cour, The Associated Press High School: Snohomish High School, Snohomish, Wash. (1966) continued College: Central Washington (1971), Western Washington (1974) Playing Experience Hawaii (1969-70) Coaching Experience 1971-74 Idaho State (graduate assistant) 1975 Western Washington (graduate assistant) 1976 Washington (graduate assistant) 1977-81 Utah State (offensive coordinator) 1982 Idaho (offensive coordinator) 1983-85 LA Express, USFL (assistant coach) 1985 Idaho (offensive coordinator) 1986-88 Idaho (head coach) 1989-90 Washington (offensive line) 1991 Washington (offensive coordinator, offensive line) 1992-95 California (head coach) 1996-98 Seattle Seahawks, NFL (assistant coach) 1999 Washington (asst. head coach, offensive line, tight ends) 2000-03 Washington (offensive coordinator, tight ends) Bowl Experience 1989 Freedom Bowl (Washington vs. Florida) 1990 Rose Bowl (Washington vs. Iowa) 1991 Rose Bowl (Washington vs. Michigan) 1993 Alamo Bowl (California vs. Iowa) 1999 Holiday Bowl (Washington vs. Kansas State) 2001 Rose Bowl (Washington vs. Purdue) 2001 Holiday Bowl (Washington vs. Texas) 2002 Sun Bowl (Washington vs. Purdue) 79 Coaches WASHINGTON Coaches “Gilbertson’s down-to-earth nature has impressed play- ers, alumni and reporters alike. It goes back to his roots, Gilbertson’s Record vs. in Snohomish County, which is gaining a reputation as the All Opponents West Coast cradle of coaches, our version of Massillon, Ohio.” Opponent W L – Blaine Newnham, Seattle Times Arizona State 1 3 Arizona 1 3 Boise State 3 0 “Things just changed, it seemed, overnight.