Chowan University Athletics

Tony Gilbert enters his second season as an assistant coach with the Chowan University football program.

Chowan University Head Coach Paul Johnson brought in Coach Gilbert in the spring of 2024. Gilbert got to spend the spring season with the Hawks defense, installing a hard nosed style of defense that will assist the Hawks defenders going against Gulf South opponents. Gilbert has experience at the Division I and Division II levels dating back to his first coaching stint at Missouri State as a graduate assistant in 1990-1991.

During the 2024 season, Gilbert led the defense to a total of 658 tackles, including 376 solo stops and 282 asissts, while allowing fewer total tackles than their opponents.The Hawks recorded 47 tackles for loss totaling 138 yards. Kennypride Toh recorded 88 tackles on the season and received Second Team All-GSC for his defensive efforts. Two players from the defensive end of the ball were named to the 2024 All-GSC Academic Teams

Gilbert brings a wealth of coaching and playing experience to the table that will assist the Hawks as they prepare for the second season of play in the perennially tough football league, the Gulf South Conference. 

Most recently Gilbert served as the Defensive Coordinator for Gulf South Conference member, Mississippi College. Gilbert spent five seasons at Mississippi College and assisted the Choctaws to their first five win season (2019) since transitioning back to NCAA D2 status from NCAA D3 status (2009). Like the Hawks, Mississippi College plays in the Gulf South Conference, which is noted to have some of the best NCAA D2 football in the country with the likes of powerhouses Delta State and Valdosta State. 

The Blytheville, Ark. native had a two-year stint as the cornerbacks coach at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas. Cornerback Aretavious Hendrix was an Honorable Mention All-Southland Conference selection after racking up a team-high six pass breakups with two fumble recoveries and an interception in 2018.
 
Prior to his time at SFA, Gilbert served three seasons as the cornerbacks coach and special teams coordinator at Eastern Illinois (2014-16) and spent one year as the defensive backs coach in his second stint at Southern Arkansas (2013). He also was the defensive backs coach at Louisiana-Monroe (2011-12) for two years.
 
Before he was at ULM, Gilbert spent nine seasons as the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. While there, Gilbert coached five players who went on to sign NFL contracts.Gilbert spent nine seasons at Southern Arkansas University, in two separate stints. He coached the defensive backs unit the same year the squad claimed the Gulf South Championship (1997). Gilbert's ability to construct defensive units that produced nation leading numbers garnered the attention of SAU's head coach and Gilbert was elevated to the Defensive Coordinator, where he spent two seasons. During the 1997-1999 seasons, Gilbert helped SAU to a 27-5 record  in the Gulf South Athletic Conference. 
 
Gilbert spent two seasons (2001-02) at Central Arkansas before heading to Arkansas State, serving as the Bears' assistant head coach and leading UCA's wide receiving corps. During his time in Conway, Arkansas, Gilbert helped the Bears to rank among the top 10 nationally in both passing offense and total defense, while aiding UCA to its first-ever NCAA Division II playoff appearance in 2001.

Prior to Gilbert's two years at UCA and his first time on staff at Southern Arkansas, he spent five seasons at Southeast Missouri (1992-96) coaching the Redhawks' running backs. Gilbert's first coaching experience came at his alma mater, Missouri State, where he worked with the running back group as a graduate assistant for two seasons.
 
A four-year letter winner at running back for Missouri State, Gilbert earned his bachelor's degree in 1989, followed by his master's degree in 1991. Following his time as a student in Springfield, Missouri, Gilbert signed a free agent contract with the New York Giants in the summer of 1991 before beginning his coaching career.