Robert Gillespie joined the Carolina football staff on March 21, 2018, to serve as running backs coach under then-head coach Larry Fedora. When Mack Brown was hired following the ’18 season, Gillespie was retained and continues to coach running backs.
Over the course of his 16-year career in coaching, Gillespie has produced 10 NFL running backs, including 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year Alvin Kamara. Including Kamara, Gillespie mentored three NFL backs at Tennessee, three at Oklahoma St. and two each at South Carolina and West Virginia.
In his second season at Carolina, Gillespie guided a group of running backs who helped Carolina rank 12th nationally in total offense at 474 yards per game, while posting 188.2 rushing yards per game, which was good for fourth in the ACC and in the top 40 nationally. The running back trio of Michael Carter, Javonte Williams and Antonio Williams combined for 391 carries, 2,258 yards (5.8 ypc) and 11 TDs, while catching 40 passes for 334 yards and three TDs. Carter and Javonte Williams both earned All-ACC recognition after posting at least 1,000 all-purpose yards. In fact, Carolina was one of nine schools nationally and one of four Power 5 programs that had two running backs post at least 1,000 all-purpose yards.
In his first year at UNC, Gillespie helped produce a rushing attack that averaged 193 yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry, which was tied for 19th nationally. In total, the Tar Heels scored 19 rushing touchdowns, led by five each from junior Antonio Williams and freshman Javonte Williams. Williams, Williams and sophomore Michael Carter each averaged better than five yards per attempt in 2018, with Carter's 7.1 average good for fifth among ACC running backs.
Gillespie came to Carolina after five seasons at Tennessee, where he served as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator in addition to working with the Vols' running backs. While in Knoxville, Gillespie worked with several talented backs, including Kamara, John Kelly and Rajion Neal.
Prior to his time at UT, Gillespie tutored running backs at West Virginia, Oklahoma State and South Carolina. He spent two seasons at WVU (2011-12) and helped the Mountaineers to the 2011 BIG EAST title.
Gillespie spent a pair of seasons as the running backs coach at Oklahoma State (2009-10). The Cowboys led the Big 12 in rushing and finished 22nd nationally in 2009, posting 187.8 yards per game. In 2010, the Gillespie-led group notched 174.4 yards rushing per game in support of the nation’s third-best offense. During his tenure in Stillwater, Gillespie coached future NFL running backs Kendall Hunter and Keith Toston, with Hunter earning consensus All-America honors in 2010.
After starting his coaching career as a graduate assistant at South Carolina in 2005, Gillespie spent the next three seasons in Columbia coaching running backs. He mentored Cory Boyd to back-to-back seasons of at least 800 yards. Boyd tallied 1,726 yards over those two seasons and scored 17 TDs before being selected in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Gillespie was a four-year letterman at Florida, where he rushed for 1,854 career yards from 1998 to 2001. The Hattiesburg, Miss. native finished his collegiate career ranked second all-time for the Gators in receptions (96) and receiving yards (1,091) by a running back. Gillespie served as team captain in 2001, helping lead the Gators to a 56-23 Orange Bowl victory over Maryland and a No. 3 final national ranking in the AP and Coaches Poll. He also helped lead Florida to an SEC Championship in 2000. Gillespie went on to play in the NFL with Washington (2002-03) and Jacksonville (2003) before getting into coaching.
Gillespie and his wife Crystal have two daughters, Nola and Sadie, and a son, Wynston.
The Gillespie File
Personal
Birthdate: Nov. 2, 1979
Hometown: Hattiesburg, Miss.
Wife: Crystal
Children: daughters, Nola and Sadie, and son, Wynston
Education
College: Florida ‘05
Gillespie Coaching History
| Years |
School |
Title |
| 2018- |
North Carolina |
Running Backs |
| 2013-17 |
Tennessee |
Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2011-12 |
West Virginia |
Running Backs |
| 2009-10 |
Oklahoma State |
Running Backs |
| 2006-08 |
South Carolina |
Running Backs |
| 2005 |
South Carolina |
Graduate Assistant |
Postseason Experience As a Coach
| Years |
School |
Bowl |
| 2019 |
North Carolina |
Military Bowl |
| 2016 |
Tennessee |
Music City Bowl |
| 2016 |
Tennessee |
Outback Bowl |
| 2015 |
Tennessee |
TaxSlayer Bowl |
| 2012 |
West Virginia |
Pinstripe Bowl |
| 2012 |
West Virginia |
Orange Bowl |
| 2010 |
Oklahoma State |
Alamo Bowl |
| 2009 |
South Carolina |
Outback Bowl |
| 2006 |
South Carolina |
Liberty Bowl |
| 2005 |
South Carolina |
Independence Bowl |
Postseason Experience As a Player
| Years |
School |
Bowl |
| 2002 |
Florida |
Orange Bowl |
| 2001 |
Florida |
Sugar Bowl |
| 2000 |
Florida |
Citrus Bowl |
| 1999 |
Florida |
Orange Bowl |
