Steve Gilbert recently completed his seventh year with the Dragons football program and serves as running backs coach.

During the 2019 campaign, Gilbert helped lead the Dragons to arguably the best season in program history. Tiffin finished the regular season 9-1 along with a perfect 7-0 mark in GMAC play to claim the conference title. The GMAC crown is just the third conference championship in program history, and first as a member of Division II. As a result, the Dragons earned their first-ever berth into the NCAA DII playoffs and came extremely close to upsetting the 2-seed in the region, Kutztown, on the road in the first round.

Tiffin's offense was among the best in the country, ranking fifth in DII in total offense (507.8 ypg) and seventh in scoring offense (43.2 ppg). The rushing attack was particularly potent, ranking 15th nationally at 245.5 yards per game. Gilbert's main running back, JaQuan Hardy, finished in the top-six nationally in yards per game, yards per carry, and total yards. Hardy was also named an All-American by four different publications along with earning GMAC Player of the Year honors as a junior.

In 2011, Gilbert was inducted to the OHSFCA Hall of Fame after a 37 year career as a high school coach and teacher, and he will be inducted to the Tiffin Columbian Hall of Fame in May 2020. He is a 1968 graduate of Toledo St. Francis DeSales High School. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo in 1973 and his Master’s degree from Bowling Green State University in 1979. He also earned a Vocational Education degree from Kent State University in 1991. Coach Gilbert has coached three All Conference running backs at Tiffin, including All American JaQuan Hardy.

Gilbert has been an assistant football coach and wrestling coach at North Baltimore HS (1973-75); Bowling Green HS (1975-81); and Norwalk HS (1981-84). In 1985, Gilbert was named Head Football Coach at Ashland Crestview HS. In two years he moved on to Mansfield Senior HS as Head Coach. In 1993 he was named Head Coach at Tiffin Columbian HS where he stayed for 17 years, posting a career record of 137-44 with 10 NOL Championships and 8 trips to the OHSAA State playoffs. His career high school record is 189-72.

During his years as a high school coach, he earned many awards including: five-time Northwest Ohio Coach of the Year; OHSAA Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity award (2008); President of the OHSFCA (2000); President of the Northwest Ohio Football Coaches Association (1998-2000); Regional Director for the OHSFCA (1995-2010); Board of Directors for NW Ohio Football Coaches Assn. (1995-2011);  and Head Coach for Ohio in Big 33 game vs. Pennsylvania (2000). He coached NFL All-Pro Hugh Douglas while at Mansfield while also coaching 58 All-Ohio players at Columbian. Coach Gilbert is very honored that over 20 of his former assistants or players are now high school head coaches.

Coach Gilbert is married to his wife Nancy and they have two sons, Aaron and Kyle and daughter-in-law Meredith