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Articles
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Interim or "permanent," that is the question? By Malamute, 23 July 2993
Whether Gilby is named head coach, whether it be interim or permanent (a multi-year contract) head coach, depends on the outcome of Rick Neuheisel’s appeal, the fate of which university vice president Norm Arkans must decide. His decision is expected to be made within a few days, and if Neuheisel is jettisoned, Gilbertson is the obvious replacement because of his years’ coaching the Huskies as an assistant. Whether Gilbertson wears the badge of permanency may depend on the amount of tarnish accumulated by his record as California’s head coach from 1992-95. His 20-26 record for four years’ effort doesn’t inspire much confidence in his ability to produce a winner; he was fired by the Bears in 1995, after finishing 4-7 and 3-8 during his last two seasons. Before coaching at Cal, he was an offensive coordinator at Washington under Don James in 1989-1991. His record at Cal speaks volumes for the “I” word, interim, while Washington's need for permanency becomes critical when you think about recruiting and stability for the program. The badge of permanency is polarized in two camps: with Gilby's former players at Washington on the positive side and Gilby's former players at Cal, along with a beat writer's remarks, on the negative side. Reportedly, at Cal, Gilbertson was too soft on his players, alienated the alumni and couldn’t handle the pressures of the job. Wide receiver Na’il Benjamin of the 1996 Bears has been quoted by John McGrath of the Tacoma News Tribune as saying, "The only problem with coach Gilbertson was his heart. He has a big heart, and it was difficult for him to discipline guys in a way that was appropriate.” Glenn Dickey of the San Francisco Chronicle covered the Bears in 1992-95, when Gilbertson was head coach. Asked whether Gilbertson should be named head coach at Washington by Softy Softerson (KJR radio, Seattle), Dickey replied “Forget it. He can’t handle the pressures of the job. He alienated members of the Grid Club. He would go off to the bar and drink after the question and answer session. He was not very popular here. The players lost respect for him. Nice guy, nice assistant, he’s not a head coach.” Publicly, Don James has been quoted as saying, “He’s (Gilbertson’s) a very good coach; he’s a very qualified coach; the players all love him.” Did James echo those words without reservation when he met with Hedges? We asked the fly on the wall, and he said yes. ----------------------- Gilbertson, 55, works as an offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Washington. Prior to his hiring at Washington in 1999, he worked under Dennis Erickson as a tight ends coach for the Seattle Seahawks, where he held the position for three years. His overall head coaching record is 48-35. It includes a three-year stint at Idaho (1986-1988), where he posted a 28-9 record, and four years at California (1995-1998) where his teams won 20 and lost 26 games. Gilbertson - or “Gilby" as fans call him - led the Vandals to an 11-2 record in 1988, the best mark in school history. That year, Idaho advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA semifinals, and he was named the Big Sky Conference coach of the year. His 1987 and 1988 teams won the Big Sky championships. |
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Should Keith Gilbertson be
given a multi-year contract or should he be named
interim head coach at Washington? Don James may have the answer, and that may be
the reason he met with Washington AD Barbara Hedges yesterday morning. Sources
close to Ruth Robbins, realdawg.com, informed her of that meeting, which
occurred at 8:30 AM in Hedges’ office.