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Former football coach dies of medical condition
Jim Gilstrap, a former football coach, died after a battle with intestinal cancer on July 19
Sean McLean
Issue date: 7/25/07 Section: News
On and off the field, Jim Gilstrap, a former football running backs coach, was a man who worked hard and had a big heart.
On July 19, after a battle with intestinal cancer, Gilstrap passed away from medical complications at age 65.
His character and personality were admired by everyone he worked with during his coaching career. At the culmination of his career as running backs coach at Oregon State University, he had put in 42 years of service to college and Canadian football.
OSU head coach Mike Riley reflected on a man that helped turn the program around in the late 1990s.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Gilstrap family; we have suffered a great loss," Riley said in a press release. "Jim was one of the most incredible human beings I have ever been around.
"His commitment to the program and well being of the student athletes will be sorely missed. This is a very emotional time for all of us; it won't be the same without Jim around the building and team."
Gilstrap and Riley began coaching together before they first arrived at OSU in 1997. They helped the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League win the Grey Cup title in 1990, and Gilstrap was also a coach with four other CFL teams (Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, and Saskatchewan).
When Riley became head coach at OSU in 1997, Gilstrap was one of the first assistant coaches he hired, becoming the offensive line coach. He had a big challenge ahead of him as he had to turn a group of lineman, that were formerly in a wishbone offense with ex-coach Jerry Pettibone, into a pro-style offense in Riley's system.
With numerous seasons of experience under his belt, Gilstrap's offensive line helped the Beavers generate their first 1,000-yard rusher in 27 years with tailback Ken Simonton rushing for 1,028 yards in 1998.
"That first season, we had a big change going from run-blocking all the time to pro- style blocking," said Aaron Koch, a former OSU offensive lineman who went on to play a few seasons in the NFL. "He came in and really helped me become a better blocker, and he really helped me understand pro-style blocking, which helped me a lot in the pros."
On July 19, after a battle with intestinal cancer, Gilstrap passed away from medical complications at age 65.
His character and personality were admired by everyone he worked with during his coaching career. At the culmination of his career as running backs coach at Oregon State University, he had put in 42 years of service to college and Canadian football.
OSU head coach Mike Riley reflected on a man that helped turn the program around in the late 1990s.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Gilstrap family; we have suffered a great loss," Riley said in a press release. "Jim was one of the most incredible human beings I have ever been around.
"His commitment to the program and well being of the student athletes will be sorely missed. This is a very emotional time for all of us; it won't be the same without Jim around the building and team."
Gilstrap and Riley began coaching together before they first arrived at OSU in 1997. They helped the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League win the Grey Cup title in 1990, and Gilstrap was also a coach with four other CFL teams (Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, and Saskatchewan).
When Riley became head coach at OSU in 1997, Gilstrap was one of the first assistant coaches he hired, becoming the offensive line coach. He had a big challenge ahead of him as he had to turn a group of lineman, that were formerly in a wishbone offense with ex-coach Jerry Pettibone, into a pro-style offense in Riley's system.
With numerous seasons of experience under his belt, Gilstrap's offensive line helped the Beavers generate their first 1,000-yard rusher in 27 years with tailback Ken Simonton rushing for 1,028 yards in 1998.
"That first season, we had a big change going from run-blocking all the time to pro- style blocking," said Aaron Koch, a former OSU offensive lineman who went on to play a few seasons in the NFL. "He came in and really helped me become a better blocker, and he really helped me understand pro-style blocking, which helped me a lot in the pros."
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