Eastern University Athletics

Tommy 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. Gilmore will serve in the same capacity at Eastern. 

Gilmore  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. 

He 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. 

Crocker is enthusiastic about Gilmore's ability and work ethic as a recruiter and coach, and believes that his young assistant will play a major role in another big step forward for the Eastern program.