TicketsKeith Gilmore enters his sixth year as a part of Brian Kelly[apos]s staff and serves as assistant head coach and defensive line coach in his second season with the Bearcats. Gilmore has a wide range of coaching experience, having served with nine different programs.
In his first season with the Bearcats, Gilmore coached a defensive line that boasted an all-American in Terrill Byrd, UC[apos]s single-season sacks leader in Anthony Hoke, and an NFL draft choice in Angelo Craig. His group proved to be one of the best in the BIG EAST, as the Bearcats defense ranked second in the league in scoring defense (18.8) and rushing defense (114.2).
The 24-year coaching veteran mentored a pair of defensive linemen to all-league honors in his only season at Central Michigan. Gilmore went to CMU in 2006, following four seasons as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Howard University. He also was the defensive line coach for the Bison, who led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in total defense in 2004 (297.5 ypg) and 2005 (255.7 ypg).
Gilmore has held internships with three NFL teams throughout his coaching career. He spent the 1996 season with the Green Bay Packers coaching staff , the 2002 season with the Detroit Lions scouting department and the 2005 season with the Super Bowl-champion Pittsburgh Steelers scouting department.
Prior to his time at Howard, Gilmore spent the 1998-2001 seasons at Norfolk State. He was the special teams coordinator and also coached the defensive line and running backs.
A two-time all-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honoree at Wayne State (1979-80), Gilmore began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1985. From there, he served stints at Michigan State (1988), Northern Michigan (1989-90), Grand Valley State (1991-93), Wayne State (1994), and Eastern Michigan (1995-97).