The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Meet The Staff: Special Team Coordinator/Secondary Coach Kenneth Gilstrap
1/23/2023 4:20:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – A dynamic young coach whose position groups at Middle Tennessee boasted some of best numbers in the country, Kenneth Gilstrap was named UAB's special teams coordinator and secondary coach in January of 2023.
"Kenneth was a guy I admired for a long time being in Tennessee," Head Coach Trent Dilfer said. "He is an incredible secondary coach but is also becoming one of the better special teams coaches in the country. MTSU's special teams was close to the top of the NCAA in blocked kicks and punts. He is a fantastic communicator and a rising star in the recruiting world."
Gilstrap comes to Birmingham after having spent the four previous seasons (2019-2022) coaching cornerbacks at his Alma Mater Middle Tennessee. In February of 2022, he was also given the responsibilities of special teams coordinator.
Gilstrap turned the cornerbacks at Middle Tennessee into one of the disruptive units in all of college football over the last two seasons as the Blue Raiders ranked second nationally in passes intercepted in 2022 (20) and fifth nationally in 2021 (17).
Additionally, Middle Tennessee was third nationally last season in blocked kicks (6) and fifth nationally in blocked punts (4) under Gilstrap's tutelage. Middle Tennessee was 15-11 over the last two years and won back-to-back bowl games.
Gilstrap's punter and long snapper earned First Team All-Conference USA honors in 2022 and he also had three defensive backs and one kick returner earn postseason accolades last year. Along with the postseason honors, Gilstrap helped Decorian Patterson lead the nation in interceptions (7) in 2022.
Prior to joining in Blue Raiders' staff in 2019, Gilstrap was the cornerbacks coach at Florida A&M in 2018 and helped the Rattlers to their first winning season in seven years.
He spent 2017 coaching cornerbacks at Arkansas-Monticello after spending two seasons (2015-16) as a graduate assistant at Middle Tennessee.
A native of Ellenwood, Ga., Gilstrap played cornerback at Middle Tennessee from 2009-13. He was a four-year letter winner and 30-game starter who compiled 126 career tackles, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups. He was also a two-time conference champion in the 55-meter dash for the Blue Raiders' track & field team.
Gilstrap graduated from Middle Tennessee in 2013 with a degree in liberal studies and earned his master's degree in 2016 in administration and supervision.
Gilstrap has one son, Kenneth Gilstrap III.
205 Day:
Fans will be able to meet the entire UAB Football staff at 205 Day on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. For more information on 205 Day, click here.
2023 Season Tickets:
Season tickets for the 2023 UAB Football season are now available starting as low as $99. Season ticket packages will feature all six home games during UAB's inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games at Protective Stadium. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1. Fans may renew season tickets, purchase new season tickets or request more information on season ticket options here.
"Kenneth was a guy I admired for a long time being in Tennessee," Head Coach Trent Dilfer said. "He is an incredible secondary coach but is also becoming one of the better special teams coaches in the country. MTSU's special teams was close to the top of the NCAA in blocked kicks and punts. He is a fantastic communicator and a rising star in the recruiting world."
Gilstrap comes to Birmingham after having spent the four previous seasons (2019-2022) coaching cornerbacks at his Alma Mater Middle Tennessee. In February of 2022, he was also given the responsibilities of special teams coordinator.
Gilstrap turned the cornerbacks at Middle Tennessee into one of the disruptive units in all of college football over the last two seasons as the Blue Raiders ranked second nationally in passes intercepted in 2022 (20) and fifth nationally in 2021 (17).
Additionally, Middle Tennessee was third nationally last season in blocked kicks (6) and fifth nationally in blocked punts (4) under Gilstrap's tutelage. Middle Tennessee was 15-11 over the last two years and won back-to-back bowl games.
Gilstrap's punter and long snapper earned First Team All-Conference USA honors in 2022 and he also had three defensive backs and one kick returner earn postseason accolades last year. Along with the postseason honors, Gilstrap helped Decorian Patterson lead the nation in interceptions (7) in 2022.
Prior to joining in Blue Raiders' staff in 2019, Gilstrap was the cornerbacks coach at Florida A&M in 2018 and helped the Rattlers to their first winning season in seven years.
He spent 2017 coaching cornerbacks at Arkansas-Monticello after spending two seasons (2015-16) as a graduate assistant at Middle Tennessee.
A native of Ellenwood, Ga., Gilstrap played cornerback at Middle Tennessee from 2009-13. He was a four-year letter winner and 30-game starter who compiled 126 career tackles, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups. He was also a two-time conference champion in the 55-meter dash for the Blue Raiders' track & field team.
Gilstrap graduated from Middle Tennessee in 2013 with a degree in liberal studies and earned his master's degree in 2016 in administration and supervision.
Gilstrap has one son, Kenneth Gilstrap III.
205 Day:
Fans will be able to meet the entire UAB Football staff at 205 Day on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. For more information on 205 Day, click here.
2023 Season Tickets:
Season tickets for the 2023 UAB Football season are now available starting as low as $99. Season ticket packages will feature all six home games during UAB's inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games at Protective Stadium. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1. Fans may renew season tickets, purchase new season tickets or request more information on season ticket options here.
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