The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Football
Kenneth Gilstrap
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator/Secondary
- Email:
- kdgilstr@uab.edu
- Phone:
- 975-9536
Updated April 2024
Kenneth Gilstrap was hired as UAB’s secondary coach in January of 2023 and enters his second season with the Blazers.
In 2023, the UAB defense ranked 7th nationally in fumbles recovered and had 21 takeaway total. Gilstrap’s unit was responsible for 12 of the team’s 21 takeaways, including nine of UAB’s 10 interceptions.
Gilstrap came 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 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 in blocked kicks (6) and fifth nationally in blocked punts (4) under Gilstrap’s tutelage in 2022. 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.
Kenneth Gilstrap was hired as UAB’s secondary coach in January of 2023 and enters his second season with the Blazers.
In 2023, the UAB defense ranked 7th nationally in fumbles recovered and had 21 takeaway total. Gilstrap’s unit was responsible for 12 of the team’s 21 takeaways, including nine of UAB’s 10 interceptions.
Gilstrap came 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 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 in blocked kicks (6) and fifth nationally in blocked punts (4) under Gilstrap’s tutelage in 2022. 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.
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