Prior to the 2024 Season, Kyle Langhoff announced the addition of Mel Gilfillan to the staff as a Defensive Assistant. He will serve as the Defensive Line Coach.
Gilfillan is no stranger to coaching experience, as he served as the Head Football Coach at both Rockford Guilford High School, in Rockford, Illinois & Coffeeville HS, in Coffeeville, Mississippi. Prior to being the Head Coach at Coffeeville HS, he was a graduate assistant at Ole Miss.
As a defensive lineman, Gilfillan played at Carthage College & Southern Illinois University. Gilfillan owns a Bachelors of Arts in Special Education from Southern Illinois University & a Masters of Arts in Special Education from Ole Miss. Along with a Bachelors & Masters degree, he also holds a EDS, or Education Specialist degree in Special Education from Grand Canyon University.
Gilfillan is originally from Downers Grove, Illinois and loves to fish & spend time with his wife Nicole & 4 grown children: Zane, Audrey, Shannon & Megan. His favorite quote is "The man on the top of the mountain didn't just fall there”, which was said by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach, Vince Lombardi.
