Keith Gilmore 2016-17 Football Staff

Defensive Line

Bio

THE GILMORE FILE

Hometown: Detroit, Michigan

High School: Highland Park High School

College: Wayne State (Recreation Management, 1981)

Wife: Bridget

Children: Daughters – Keyontay, Grace; Sons: Keith, Kierre, Grant

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

1976 Michigan Linebacker

1978-80 Wayne State Linebacker

BOWLS/PLAYOFFS PLAYED

1977 Michigan (Rose)

COACHING CAREER

1985-87 Wayne State Linebackers/Running Backs

1988 Michigan State Graduate Assistant

1989-90 Northern Michigan Running Backs

1991-93 Grand Valley State Linebackers/Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator

1994 Wayne State Running Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator

1995-97 Eastern Michigan Running Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator

1998-01 Norfolk State Defensive Line/Running Backs/Special Teams

2002-05 Howard Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator

2006 Central Michigan Defensive Line

2007-08 Cincinnati Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line

2009-12 Illinois Defensive Line

2013-14 North Carolina Defensive Line

2015-16 Notre Dame Defensive Line

BOWLS/PLAYOFFS COACHED

1988 Michigan State (Gator)

1991 Grand Valley State (NCAA Division II first round)

2006 Central Michigan (Motor City)

2007 Cincinnati (PapaJohns.com)

2008 Cincinnati (Orange)

2010 Illinois (Texas)

2011 Illinois (Fight Hunger)

2013 North Carolina (Belk)

2014 North Carolina (Quick Lane)

2015 Notre Dame (Fiesta)

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Three-year letter-winner as a linebacker at Wayne State University (1978-80)
Two-time all-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honoree
Collegiate teammate of defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder and director of football strength and conditioning Paul Longo

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Second season as the Notre Dame defensive line coach in 2016
31-year coaching veteran whose career includes stops at the University of Cincinnati (2007- 08), Central Michigan University (2006) and Grand Valley State University (1991-93) under Irish head coach Brian Kelly
Mentored defensive lineman Sheldon Day, who recorded 15.5 tackles for loss in 2015 — the most by an Irish player since 2006
Day was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars
In 2015 Day and Romeo Okwara (12.5 TFLs) were the first set of Notre Dame teammates to record at least 12.5 tackles for loss in a season since 2006
In 2015 Okwara tied for 45th in the nation with eight sacks (0.62 per game), which also ranked tied for seventh in single-season school history
Okwara signed with the New York Giants following the 2016 NFL Draft
Spent two seasons as the University of North Carolina defensive line coach (2013-14)
Coached Kareem Martin to his most productive season at North Carolina in 2013, which included 21.5 tackles for loss (fifth in the country) and 11.5 sacks (ninth in the country)
Developed Martin into a the third-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in the 2014 NFL Draft
Worked as the defensive line coach for four years at the University of Illinois (2009-12)
Tutored four NFL draft picks at Illinois, including Corey Liuget (2011 first round), Whitney Mercilus (2012 first round), Akeem Spence (2013 fourth round) and Mike Buchanan (2013 seventh round)
Work with Illinois defensive line is even more impressive, considering the Illini had one defensive lineman drafted over the 14 seasons before his arrival
Developed two of the four Illini defensive linemen that have been chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft since its inception in 1936
Helped Mercilus to consensus first-team All-America honors in 2011 after he led the nation in sacks (16), sacks per game (1.23) and forced fumbles (nine, remains a Big Ten record)
Coached an Illinois starting defensive line in 2009 that recorded 33 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks, with Clay Nurse claiming honorable mention all-Big Ten accolades
Served as the assistant head coach/defensive line coach for two years at the University of Cincinnati (2007-08)
Helped Cincinnati to the 2008 BIG EAST championship and a trip to the 2009 Orange Bowl
Guided a defensive line in 2008 that helped the Bearcats rank ninth in the nation in sacks and 19th in rush defense (113.8 yards per game)
Developed a Cincinnati defensive line in 2007 that included All-American Terrill Byrd, the school’s single-season sacks leader in Anthony Hoke–and NFL draft choices Angelo Craig and Connor Barwin
Spent one season as the Central Michigan University defensive line coach (2006)
Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at Howard University (2002-05)
Held internships with three NFL teams, including the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers
Worked at Norfolk State University as special teams coordinator/defensive line/ running backs (1998-2001)
Served separate coaching stints at Michigan State University (1988), Northern Michigan University (1989-90), Grand Valley State (1991-93), Wayne State (1994 when VanGorder was the Tartars’ head coach) and Eastern Michigan University (1995-97)
Began football coaching career at his alma mater, Wayne State in 1985

DYNAMIC DISCIPLES

DT Sheldon Day (Notre Dame)

2016 NFL Draft Fourth Round pick (Jacksonville Jaguars)
2015 First Team All-American

DE Kareem Martin (North Carolina)

2014 NFL Draft Third Round pick (Arizona Cardinals)
In 2013 ranked in the top 10 in the FBS in both TFLs (21.5, fifth) and sacks (11.5, ninth)

DT Akeem Spence (Illinois)

2013 NFL Draft Fourth Round pick (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Started all 38 games he played in at Illinois

DE Whitney Mercilus (Illinois)

2012 NFL Draft First Round pick (Houston Texans)
In 2011 led the FBS in sacks (16.0, tied school record), sacks per game (1.23) and forced fumbles (nine)
Nine forced fumbles remain a Big Ten single-season record
2011 Consensus All-American
2011 Ted Hendricks Award

DE Mike Buchanan (Illinois)

2013 NFL Draft Seventh Round pick (New England Patriots)
2011 Second Team All-Big Ten

DT Corey Liuget (Illinois)

2011 NFL Draft First Round pick (San Diego Chargers)
2010 Fourth Team All-American
2012 San Diego Chargers Defensive Player of the Year
In 2013 led the Chargers in sacks, tackles for loss, quarterback pressures and quarterback hits

DE Connor Barwin (Cincinnati)

2009 NFL Draft Second Round pick (Houston Texans)
2014 NFL Pro Bowl selection
2014 NFL All-Pro