Oregon State Football Assistant Jim Gilstrap Passes

Funeral services will be held Thurs., July 26.

Photo courtesy: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Jim Gilstrap, Oregon State University football coordinator of support services, passed away Thursday at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis from medical complications. He was 65.

Gilstrap was born May 11, 1942 in South Bend, Ind.

He devoted his entire professional life to the game of football and worked closely with current Oregon State head football coach Mike Riley for many years.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Gilstrap family; we have suffered a great loss,” Riley said. “Jim was one of the most incredible human beings I have ever been around. His commitment to the program and well-being of the student-athletes will be sorely missed. This is a very emotional time for all of us; it won’t be the same without Jim around the building and team.”

Gilstrap came to Oregon State for his first stint in 1997 with Riley as the offensive line coach. He stayed at OSU through the 1998 season and then returned with Riley in 2003.

During his second tenure in Corvallis he coached the offensive line, running backs and then moved to the coordinator of support services.

While at Oregon State, Gilstrap coached postseason honors recipients Yvenson Bernard, Doug Nienhuis, Matt Brock, Adam Koets, Roy Schuening and Aaron Koch to name a few.

The Western Michigan University graduate first coached with Riley in 1990 in the Canadian Football League with Winnipeg, helping the team win the Grey Cup title.

Gilstrap also coached at Southern Illinois, Case Western, Edinboro State, Illinois State, Kansas State, Western Michigan, Fort Hays State, Linfield, Tulsa, Southwest Mississippi Community College and in the CFL with Ottawa, Hamilton, San Antonio, Toronto and Saskatchewan.

Gilstrap is survived by his wife Barbara and their four daughters, Bethany, Brianna, Brittany and Brandi.

Funeral services will be held Thurs., July 26.

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