Joe Gillespie - TCU - Defense

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Joe Gillespie - TCU

Joe Gillespie arrived at TCU in December 2021 as defensive coordinator and linebacker’s coach. In his first season with the Horned Frogs, Gillespie directed one of the nation's most improved defenses in yards per game and points per game allowed en route to an appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Gillespie coached all three TCU starting linebackers to postseason honors in 2022. Gillespie previously spent seven seasons at Tulsa, including the final three as defensive coordinator. He was a high school football coach for 20 years in the state of Texas. In 2020, Gillespie was named National Linebackers Coach of the Year by Football Scoop and was a finalist for Defensive Coordinator of the Year. A Stephenville native, Gillespie earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Angelo State in 1994.
Gillespie and his wife, Jodi, have three children: sons Josh and Jake, daughter Chelsea and son-in-law Tyler as well as grandson Emmerson and granddaughter Ayla.