June 4, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.UCFAthletics.com) - UCF Director of Athletics and Executive Vice President Keith R. Tribble announced on Monday that Caryl Smith Gilbert has been named head cross country and women's track and field coach. Smith Gilbert is scheduled to report on July 1.
The 2005 NCAA Division I National Assistant Coach of the Year, Smith Gilbert comes to UCF after five seasons as an assistant coach in charge of the sprints, hurdles and jumps at the University of Tennessee. During that time, her athletes won three NCAA titles and seven Southeastern Conference championships and earned 53 NCAA Division I All-America honors. They also established 19 school records.
"We are excited to have attracted a high profile coach such as Caryl (Smith Gilbert) join us at UCF Athletics," said Tribble. "Her extensive coaching experience and proven ability to transform student-athletes into champions on the collegiate, national and international level will be critical as we strive for greater successes in track and field and cross country."
As member of the Lady Vols staff, Smith Gilbert aided in the development of former standout Dee Dee Trotter. After capturing the NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 400m, Trotter helped Team USA win the gold medal in the 4x400m at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. She also took gold in the 4x400m relay at the 2003 World Championships.
In 2005, UT athlete Tianna Madison claimed the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles in the long jump before going on to win the event at the World Championships. It was that same year that Smith Gilbert was named U.S. Track Coaches Association National and Mideast Region Assistant Coach of the Year for sprints and hurdles.
Prior to her appointment at Tennessee in 2002, Smith Gilbert was the assistant coach University of Alabama, where she spent three years guiding athletes in the sprints, hurdles and jumps. During her tenure with the Crimson Tide, she produced seven NCAA Division I All-Americans and four USA Olympic Trials qualifiers. Three of her athletes were also members of the Jamaican National Team.
Smith Gilbert served in a similar position at Penn State University from 1997-99, watching her athletes break nine school records and earn All-America recognition four times. She was also the head girls track and field coach at George Washington High School in Denver, Colo. for four years prior to making the jump to the collegiate level.
In addition, Smith Gilbert was an assistant with Team USA during the 2002 North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Championships and was invited to coach the sprints at the 2005 Pan Am Junior Championships. She has also been selected as an assistant coach for the 2007 World Championships in Oaska, Japan.
"I see tremendous promise in the UCF track and field and cross country programs, which was a major influence on my decision to accept the position," said Smith Gilbert. "That unlimited potential along with the support from Mr. Tribble and the administration, the growth of the University and the construction of new facilities will help raise this program to national prominence. I am excited to be a part of that."
As an undergraduate at UCLA, Smith Gilbert was a three-time All-American and Pac-10 champion in the 100m, 4x100m relays and 4x400m relay. She earned her bachelor's degree in film and television production and also holds master's of science degrees in sport management and sport psychology from Tennessee. She is a 2006 USATF Level III Coaches Education Clinician, who earned USATF Level I in sprints and Level II status in jumps in 1998.
She is married to former NFL linebacker Greg Gilbert. Their family includes Greg's sons, Alex (14) and Ahmad (7).
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