On February 20, 2014, Kyle Gillenwater joined the BridgewaterCollege coaching staff as the defensive line coach and will coachthe linebackers during the 2014 season.
A 1987 Bridgewater College graduate, Gillenwater served as thedefensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator for Dan Antolik'sEagles from 1989-91.
"For us to bring in a Division I coordinator to our vacantposition on the defensive side of the ball is key for our programmoving forward," said Clark. "There are motivations outside offootball that are going allowing Kyle to come back to Bridgewater.He's a great family man and has been a staple in the community fora long time and bringing him back to his alma mater is outstandingas we prepare for the 2014 season."
Prior to joining the Eagles staff for his most recent stint withthe program, Gillenwater was a member of the staff at James MadisonUniversity for 15 years, serving most recently as the defensivecoordinator for Mickey Matthews and the Dukes. Gillenwater alsocoached the linebackers at James Madison and served as the topdefensive coach since 2009.
During his time with the Dukes, Gillenwater coached Kansas CityChiefs linebacker and 2006 College Sporting News Defensive Playerof the Year and All-America selection Akeem Jordan. Aside fromJordan, Gillenwater also oversaw a defense that produced the 2008College Sporting News Defensive Player of the Year Arthur Moats. Inall, Gillenwater helped produce nine All-America selections, sixconference Players of the Year and 13 all-conference selections
Gillenwater also aided the Dukes to the 2004 Division I-AA (FCS)Football National Championship and a trio of Colonial AthleticAssociation (CAA) titles.
Before his stint in Harrisonburg, Gillenwater coached thedefensive line at Elon from 1996-98 after serving as the assistantlinebackers coach at Marshall in 1994. Gillenwater was a three-yearstarter for the Eagles at the offensive guard position and was anAll-ODAC selection in 1986.
Gillenwater received a bachelor's in education with aconcentration in physical education from Bridgewater College in1987 before earning a master's in education from Frostburg State in1989. He resides in Harrisonburg with his wife, Elizabeth and theirthree sons, Josh, Trey and Thomas James.
