“I’m excited that the superintendent recommended me for the job,” Gillespie said. “I can’t comment until it’s finalized.”
Gillespie will be the third head coach in five seasons. Rick Robertson coached for three seasons and then left last year for Oakwood. Adam Taylor coached the Wildcats to a 2-8 season last fall, but decided not to return.
“His background and experience are a good match for the traits we were looking for,” Estrop said. “As a result, I’m very comfortable in recommending Eric for the position. He has considerable experience as a head coach. He’s known for turning programs around. He’s clearly a strong motivator and strong in relationships.”
Gillespie went 4-6 last season at Richmond and had two winning seasons and an overall record of 20-31 in five seasons (2007-11).
In three seasons at Fairborn (1999-2001), Gillespie went 14-16. That program went 1-19 in the two seasons prior to his arrival. He was named Western Ohio League Coach of the Year after going 6-4 in 2000.
Gillespie coached Hamilton to an 0-10 mark in 2002, but his tenure there ended weeks before the start of the 2003 season after he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, failure to control his vehicle and leaving the scene of a single-car accident. Gillespie pleaded no contest to the charges in January of 2004. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, but a judge suspended 27 days on the condition he complete a substance abuse program.
“Obviously, he made a mistake, and he paid the price for that,” Estrop said. “There hasn’t been any further issues. He is someone who has learned his lesson.”
Gillespie returned to coaching at Franklin Heights, going 3-7 in 2005 and 4-6 in 2006.
Earlier in his career, Gillespie was an assistant coach at Middletown (1987-90), Chaminade Julienne (1991-97) and Sycamore (1998).
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