Tarleton State University Athletics

Served as secondary coach and defensive coordinator for the Texans. As defensive coordinator, he had the No. 1 defense in the nation in 1978 when the Texans went 8-0-1 and made the Division II Playoffs. Gillespie coached Tarleton to seven TIAA championships in track and field, coached four All-American track athletes, and was named conference coach of the year seven times.