Gilbert hired as Illinois' offensive line coach

Illinois football coach Ron Zook announced Friday the hiring of former Houston, Toledo and Central Florida coach Joe Gilbert as the newest member of the Fighting Illini coaching staff. Gilbert will coach the offensive line.

"I am very excited to have Joe Gilbert join our staff," said Zook. "He is a proven offensive coach who fits well with our staff and philosophy. He knows how to motivate and get the most out of his players. He's a great recruiter and family man and in researching his was a name that came highly recommended by many people. We got better today."

"The big reason for my decision to come to Illinois was Coach Zook and his staff," Gilbert said. "When I interviewed, I really enjoyed and felt comfortable with the people that I will be working with. Another deciding factor was that Illinois has a chance to be a great program in the Big Ten. It is a great opportunity to coach in a prestigious conference like the Big Ten. I feel fortunate to be coming in at the same time as Coach Schultz so we can carry on the successful offense that has already been created. I was able to watch film on my visit and I am excited about the young players coming back and the chance I have to help them grow as players and people."

Gilbert just completed his first season at the University of Houston, where he led an offensive line that ranked second in the nation in passing and total offense and 10th in scoring offense. The Rockets' offense averaged 562 yards of total offense and 40 points per game and the line blocked for quarterback Case Keenum's 400 yards of total offense per game.

Gilbert arrived in the Houston after spending the 2007 campaign at the University of Toledo. He coached the tight ends at Toledo in 2007, his second stint on the Rockets' coaching staff. Gilbert worked with the offensive line at Toledo from 2001-03 before leaving to take the offensive line position at UCF, where he spent the previous three seasons.