CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — David Gibbs is Illinois’ new associate head coach/defensive backs coach, head coach Bret Bielema announced Tuesday. Gibbs’ contract is pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees at its next meeting in March.
Gibbs is a 32-year veteran of the coaching industry, including 14 seasons as a coordinator in college football and nine seasons as a defensive backs coach for three National Football League organizations.
“I have known and respected David for over 30 years in this profession,” said Bielema. “I have seen the results of his coaching on the field and his recruiting efforts on many different occasions. He brings a great amount of value and experience that will immediately impact our football program here at Illinois. He and his wife, Debbie, are going to be a great addition to our football famILLy, the University of Illinois, and Champaign-Urbana communities.”
“I’m excited to get to Champaign and join Coach Bielema and the Illinois football famILLy,” said Gibbs. “I have watched Coach Bielema’s teams for a long time, and I have always been impressed with how they play the game. I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to getting to work with the great staff and student-athletes within our Fighting Illini program.”
Gibbs joins the Fighting Illini from UCF, where he served as the program’s co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach for the last three seasons. He played a major role in the Knights’ defensive surge during his time in Orlando and helped lead UCF into a new era of Power-5 football in the Big 12 Conference, as he arrived to a youthful yet talented secondary and developed the unit into one of the most productive in the country.
Gibbs helped UCF go 24-15 in his three seasons, including a berth in the 2022 American Athletic Conference Championship Game and three straight bowl appearances in two Gasparilla Bowls and one Military Bowl. The Knights had three ranked wins in Gibbs’ last two seasons in Orlando, including victories over #20 Cincinnati and #17 Tulane in 2022 and a dominant 45-3 win against #15 Oklahoma State in 2023. The Knights led the Big 12 in fewest passing yards allowed (196.7) last season and ranked fifth in the conference in scoring defense (25.8).
The wins over Cincinnati and Tulane in 2022 paved the way for UCF to earn a spot in the…
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