Tony Gilbert enters his first season as the defensive coordinator of the Lincoln University football program.
Beginning in the spring of 2026, Gilbert installed a hard-nose style of defense that will assist the Blue Tiger defense as it competes in the GLVC. 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.
Prior to joining the Blue Tigers, Gilbert coached at Chowan, leading the Chowan defense to a total of 658 tackles in 2024. The Hawks recorded 47 tackles for loss, totaling 138 yards. Kennypride Toh recorded 88 tackles on the season and received second team All-GSC recognition for his efforts. Gilbert also coached two players who were named to the 2024 All-GSC Academic Team.
During the 2025 season, the Hawks recorded 10 interceptions and 20 pass break-ups while producing five defensive all-conference players, including First Team honoree Antwone Godley. Gilbert spent five seasons as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi College and, in 2019, assisted the Choctaws to their first five-win season since transitioning back to NCAA Division II status from NCAA Division III in 2009.
He had a two-year stint as the cornerbacks coach at Stephen F. Austin and coached cornerback Aretavious Hendrix, an All-Southland Conference honorable mention selection. 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 for two years (2011-12) .
Before he was at ULM, Gilbert spent nine seasons as the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Arkansas State University. While there, Gilbert coached five players who went on to sign NFL contracts. 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. Gilbert helped the Bears rank among the top-10 nationally in both passing offense and total defense while leading UCA to its first-ever NCAA Division II playoff appearance in 2001.
Gilbert also enjoyed tremendous success during his first stint at Southern Arkansas, coaching the defensive backs when SAU won the 1997 Gulf South Championship. Gilbert's was later elevated to the position of defensive coordinator, where he helped SAU achieve a three-year record 27-5.
From 1992-96, Gilbert worked at Southeast Missouri, 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 collegiate career, Gilbert signed a free agent contract with the New York Giants in the summer of 1991.
