CLINTON, Miss. --- Mississippi College athletic director Mike Jones, along with head football coach John Bland, are pleased to announce the hiring of Tony Gilbert as the team's defensive coordinator, it was announced on Tuesday (January 8).
 
"We are excited to welcome Tony to the staff as our new defensive coordinator at MC," said Bland. "Not only do I know him personally, but his wealth of knowledge and experience at the Division I and II level will help to make an immediate impact on our program."
 
Bland and Gilbert were assistants on the Southern Arkansas University football staff under head coach Steve Roberts from 1997-1999. Bland served as the team's offensive coordinator, while Gilbert coached the defensive backs in 1997 and was the defensive coordinator in 1998 and 1999.
 
"I'm so happy to be here in the great State of Mississippi," Gilbert said. "This state produces some of the best football players in the country, and I cannot wait to get to work on bringing them to this special place. I've always heard great things about Mississippi College, but to step on campus brings a whole new level of appreciation for the university."
 
Bland, who is set to enter his 6th season as the MC head man, went on to say, "Tony will be a great fit for Mississippi College. His energy and personality will help develop character in these young men on and off the field. His knowledge of the game and impressive recruiting prowess will help to lead a defense that will be pitted against the strength of the Gulf South Conference."
 
The Blytheville, Ark. native comes to MC following a two-year stint as the cornerbacks coach at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas. Cornerback Aretavious Hendrix was an Honorable Mention All-Southland Conference selection after racking up a team-high six pass breakups with two fumble recoveries and an interception in 2018.
 
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 (2011-12) for two years.
 
Before he was at ULM, Gilbert spent eight seasons as the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark. 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. During his time in Conway, Arkansas, Gilbert helped the Bears to rank among the top 10 nationally in both passing offense and total defense, while aiding UCA to its first-ever NCAA Division II playoff appearance in 2001.
 
Prior to Gilbert's two years at UCA and his first time on staff at Southern Arkansas, he spent five seasons at Southeast Missouri (1992-96) 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 time as a student in Springfield, Missouri, Gilbert signed a free agent contract with the New York Giants in the summer of 1991 before beginning his coaching career.
 
Gilbert is married to the former Regina Kuykendall as the two have been married for 33 years. They have a daughter, Jackie, and son, Tony, who is a member of the Stephen F. Austin football team as a tight end.
 

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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and will be competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.

The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.

For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.