Patience isn’t widely accepted as a virtue in college football, so just 15 months after it started, Keith Gilbertson’s tenure as the University of Washington’s head coach is over.
The Snohomish native has given much to the Husky program over the years, drawing up many a brilliant offensive scheme. As an assistant to Don James, he had a big hand in the football team’s only national championship more than a decade ago.
He inherited a wounded program, stepping in for a fired coach a month before the 2003 season opener as the NCAA investigated alleged gambling and recruiting violations. Already short of talent, a remarkable string of injuries to key players this season left the Huskies completely overmatched, and they finished a 1-10 season with their first Apple Cup loss in seven years. UW Athletic Director Todd Turner, announcing three weeks ago that Gilbertson wouldn’t be back next season, admitted the deck was stacked against him.
Through it all, the loyal coach conducted himself with dignity and grace, maintaining a sense of humor and pride and refusing to cast blame. That’s little consolation to the competitive Gilbertson, who gladly would have traded personal accolades for a winning season.
The Huskies are losing a classy coach. That’s how he should be remembered.
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