Jim Gilstrap

Who was Jim Gilstrap?

Jim Gilstrap was an American football and Canadian football coach. He had 42-year coaching career, including two as head coach of the Ottawa Rough Riders and nine as an assistant to Mike Riley.

Gilstrap began coaching in 1964 after graduating from Western Michigan University, coaching the defensive line at Southern Illinois University. From 1965 to 1966, he was the offensive line coach at Case Western. From 1967 to 1968, he was defensive line coach at Edinboro State. In 1969 he began a six-year tenure as Illinois State's offensive line coach. He then served as offensive line coach with the Kansas State Wildcats in 1977 and with the Western Michigan Broncos from 1978 to 1980.

From 1981 to 1983, Gilstrap was the head coach at Fort Hays State. He compiled a 20–11–1 record with the Tigers and ranks eighth on the wins list at FHSU. His .645 winning percentage is third best in school history among coaches to coach more than one season. His 1983 team, went 8–3, which ties for the most wins in a single season at FHSU. Gilstrap was also head wrestling coach at FHSU during the 1980–81 season.

He began coaching professionally in 1984 as a defensive coach with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. From 1987 to 1989, he was the offensive backs and receivers coach with the Toronto Argonauts. In 1990 he was hired to coach the offensive line of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers under head coach Mike Riley. The team finished 12–6 and won the 78th Grey Cup.