ST. DAVIDS, Pa. — In preparation for the 2025 season Head Coach Billy Crocker has added another promising young coach to his staff. Tommy Gilmore will lead Eastern Special Teams and will coach defensive backs.

Gilmore comes to Eastern after several years as a successful assistant at King's College where he served as Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs coach for the 2024 MAC Champion Monarchs. In his college career, he played as a safety and served as a team captain at King's. He was selected as the team's MAC Sportsmanship team honoree in 2019.  After graduation, he gained experience coaching all three levels of the defense with the King's program. 

Gilmore joins Coach Crocker's staff to lead a special teams until that played a significant role In Eastern's big step forward in 20024. The Eagles were 10th nationally in Punt Return Defense and ranked second in the MAC in Kickoff Return Defense. King's was the only MAC team ahead of the Eagles in both those categories. Eastern did not allow a blocked kick or punt in 2024 while blocking eight kicks. John Nolek made 10-of-13 field goals and had ten touchbacks. 

"Tommy is a smart, hardworking young coach who has a very bright future in this profession," Crocker said. "He brings great experience in the MAC both as a coach and player. In his time at King's, Tommy proved he can be a successful recruiter who has the ability to identify and develop talent. He will be a huge asset to our growing program. " 

In its second varsity season last fall, Eastern Football won four of its final five games to finish the year 5-5 overall. At 5-4 in MAC play, the young Eastern squad finished in a tie for third in the Middle Atlantic Conference. The Eagles missed out on a MAC/ Centennial Bowl bid on tiebreakers.