Wisconsin Football Coaches Association

Born May 28, 1929 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

"Graduate of Milwaukee West Division High School BA degree from Marquette University, MA degree from UW-Madison

Coached football at:

Grantsburg High School 1954-55,
Stoughton High School 1956-63,
North Central College 1964-65,
Macalester College 1966-68,
UW-Platteville 1969-73,
Northern Michigan University 1974-77,
New Mexico State 1978-82,
New Jersey Generals 1983,
UW-Superior 1984-87.
Gil graduated from West Division High School in 1947. He was all-city in football in 1946 and received high school all-American basketball honors in 1947. He also starred in baseball and track at West Division. At Marquette University, Gill lettered in football, and basketball. He was an honorable mention all-American in football and played in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles.

He began his coaching career at Grantsburg in 1954 as head basketball coach and his first head coaching position in football was at Stoughton where he won 35 of 36 conference games and posted a record of 52-11-1 between 1956 and 1964.

Gil then stepped up to the collegiate ranks as an assistant coach at North Central College in Illinois from 1964 through 1966, when he was given his first college head coaching assignment at Macalester College. In 1969 Gil went on to UW-Platteville where he compiled a record of 41-7-1, winning three Wisconsin State University Championships. In 1970 his team earned a berth in the NAIA play-offs. At Northern Michigan University, Gil's teams had a 31-15-0 record. They won the National Championship in 1975 with a 13-1 record. That same year he was name College Coach of the Year. In 1978 Gil took over the reins at New Mexico State. He continued his winning ways by capturing the Missouri Valley Conference Championship in his first year. For that feat he was again selected as Coach of the Year.

In 1983 Gil was an assistant coach with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL Professional Football League. In 1984 he went to UW-Superior where he coached for four years. He retired from coaching after the 1987 season. In 32 years of coaching Gil's teams have won ten championships.

Gil was the Wisconsin High School Football Coach of the Year in 1963. In 1970 he was NAIA District Coach of the Year. He was named "Sportsman of the Decade" by Northern Michigan University for the 1970's. He is a member of the Northern Michigan University Hall of Fame.

Gil's community involvement includes being president of the Jaycees and an active Lion's Club member.