Former Lake View Coach Sterlin Gilbert Lands First Collegiate Head Coaching Job

LAKE CHARLES, LA-- A former Lake View head coach landed his first collegiate head coaching gig Wednesday night.

Sterlin Gilbert was named the head football coach at McNeese State University by Athletic Director Bruce Hemphill.

"Through this process it became very clear that McNeese is very highly rated throughout the country and positions in our athletics department are extremely attractive," Hemphill said in a statement. "We are looking forward to the culture that Coach Gilbert will build and to the competitive team that he will lead on the field."

Gilbert was the Chiefs' head coach from 2008 to 2010. During that time he had a 9-23 record.

After leaving Lake View, he spent time as an assistant for Temple High School. He then landed his first collegiate job as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Eastern Illinois from 2012 to 2013. While there, he coached current San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo. Under Gilbert's direction, Garoppolo won the Walter Payton Award in 2013.

Following that, he made his way to Austin for Charlie Strong's staff at the University of Texas. He would eventually become the Longhorns' offensive coordinator.

When Charlie Strong was fired in Austin, Gilbert followed Strong to Tampa Bay and the University of South Florida. Gilbert's first year as the Bulls' OC was extremely successful. USF went 10-2 in the first year under Strong's staff, including a dramatic 38-34 win over Texas Tech in the Birmingham Bowl.

However, things have not gone well for the Bulls. They finished the regular season with a 7-5 record and a trip to the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa Bay.

Gilbert is not expected to coach in the Bulls' bowl game, according to the Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times. 

The former Chief is the 16th head coach for McNeese. He will be introduced at a press conference this Friday at 11 a.m.

"I am extremely honored to be the head football coach at McNeese," Gilbert said in a statement. "I'm excited to meet with our players, laying out the vision, culture, and how we will directly invest in their success."

The position opened up after McNeese announced Lance Guidry's contract would not be renewed in late November.