Kenneth Gilstrap - Football Coach - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Kenneth Gilstrap

Title:
Cornerbacks
Email:
kenneth.gilstrap@mtsu.edu
Phone:
898-2926

Updated December 2022

Twitter: KennethGilstrap
Instagram: thekennethgilstrap

Kenneth Gilstrap, a former player for Rick Stockstill at Middle Tennessee, is in his fourth season as a full-time member of the Blue Raider coaching staff. Gilstrap, known as an aggressive recruiter, coaches the cornerbacks and added special team’s coordinator to his list of duties in February 2022.

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, cornerbacks/special team’s coordinator (2019-Present)
• Date Hired: March 31, 2019
• Recruiting Area: Northwest Tennessee, South Atlanta, West Florida, Charlotte and Kansas JUCO’s
• Added the title of special teams coordinator in February 2022
• Helped Blue Raiders finish third in C-USA in interceptions with eight and tied for third in turnovers forced in nine games in 2020
• Coached C-USA All-Freshman team members Quincy Riley (2020) and Deidrick Stanley (2021)
• In 2021, the Blue Raiders finished fifth nationally in interceptions thanks to nine coming from the cornerbacks to go with 32 pass breakups
• Redshirt freshman Quincy Riley earned 2021 First Team All-C-USA honors while leading C-USA in interceptions and ranking fourth nationally
• Mentored corners Decorian Patterson and Teldrick Ross to record-breaking seasons in 2022. Patterson earned Honorable Mention All-C-USA honors after intercepting six passes to rank second nationally, while Ross earned second team All-C-USA recognition after setting a school record with 18 pass breakups
• Special teams was a strong suit for the Blue Raiders in year one under Gilstrap. Kyle Ulbrich, a first team All-C-USA selection, ranked 6^th nationally in punting while place-kicker Zeke Rankin was 24^th in field goal percentage. The Blue Raiders also ranked third nationally with six blocked kicks.

At Florida A&M, cornerbacks (2018)
• Handled the cornerbacks and also the kickoff team
• Kickoff team was the top unit in the MEAC in 2018
• Helped program to first winning season in seven years

At Arkansas-Monticello, cornerbacks, 2017
• Coached all-conference defensive backs Jeremy Jackson and Christian Jefferson in 2017
• Helped improve pass defense in every statistical category

At Middle Tennessee, graduate assistant cornerbacks, 2015-16
• Was a part of bowl teams in 2015 and 2016
• Assisted in the development of all-conference player Jeremy Cutrer

Personal
Hometown: Ellenwood, GA
Birthdate: July 30, 1991
Children: Kenneth Gilstrap III
Other: Author of the fictional novel “The Boy from the Swamp”

Education
High School: Miller Grove (2009)
College: Middle Tennessee, 2013
Degree: B.A. Liberal Studies; Masters in Administration and Supervision, 2016

Playing Experience (CB)
• Middle Tennessee (2009-13)
• Four-year letterwinner and 30-game starter
• Played on three bowl teams
• Had 126 career tackles, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups
• Was also on the track team where he was a two-time conference champion in the 55 meters

Bowl Experience
2009: New Orleans Bowl (player)
2011: GoDaddy Bowl (player)
2013: Armed Forces Bowl (player)
2015: Bahamas Bowl (coach)
2016: Hawai’i Bowl (coach)
2021: Bahamas Bowl (coach)
2022: Hawai’i Bowl (coach)