| 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 | 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 Americanfootball andCanadian football coach. He had 42-year coaching career, including two as head coach of theOttawa Rough Riders and ten as an assistant toMike Riley.
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Gilstrap began coaching in 1964 after graduating fromWestern Michigan University, coaching thedefensive line atSouthern Illinois University. From 1965 to 1966, he was theoffensive line coach atCase Western. From 1967 to 1968, he was defensive line coach atEdinboro State. In 1969, he began a six-year tenure asIllinois State's offensive line coach. He then served as offensive line coach with theKansas State Wildcats in 1977 and with theWestern Michigan Broncos from 1978 to 1980.
From 1981 to 1983, Gilstrap was the head coach atFort 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 in1984 as a defensive coach with theSaskatchewan Roughriders of theCanadian Football League. From1987 to1989, he was the offensive backs and receivers coach with theToronto Argonauts. In1990 he was hired to coach theoffensive line of theWinnipeg Blue Bombers under head coachMike Riley. The team finished 12–6 and won the78th Grey Cup.
He moved with Riley the following season to coach theWLAF'sSan Antonio Riders. In1993 he followed Riley to the CFL's expansionSan Antonio Texans. However, the team folded before the season started it when ran out of money.
In1995 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 theHamilton Tiger-Cats offensive line coach.
Starting in 1997 Gilstrap was OSU'soffensive line coach and assistant head coach under Mike Riley. When Riley left for theSan Diego Chargers. He moved toLinfield where he served as an assistantathletic director and assistant football coach during the 1999 season. In 2000, he moved toTulsa as coachKeith Burns'offensive coordinator andrunning backs coach. He spent the 2002 season as offensive coordinator andquarterbacks/wide receivers coach atSouthwest 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 recipientsYvenson Bernard,Doug Nienhuis,Adam Koets,Roy Schuening, andAaron Koch.
| 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 | ||||||||
| 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 | ||||