Eastern Washington University Athletics

With a 522-276 record in 32 years as a high school basketball coach, Gilman became a legendary figure at Ferris High School in Spokane. After arriving at Ferris in 1984, his teams were 347-113 in 18 seasons and placed in the top eight in the State Tournament 10 times out of 12 tournament berths. Ferris won the State AAA title in 1994, and had runner-up State finishes in 1988, 1993, 1999 and in his final season in 2001 when the team finished 25-4. The Saxons were also third in 1991 and 1996, fourth in 1986, fifth in 1985, and eighth in 1998. His teams won nine Greater Spokane League titles, eight district championships, three regional titles and he was selected as GSL Coach of the Year five times. In 1994 he was selected as Junior Coach of the Year by the Spokane Sportswriters and Broadcasters, and in 2000 was awarded the "Certificate of Achievement." When he was selected as head coach at Ferris, the Saxons previously had five coaches in six years. "I plan to be here a long time," Gilman said. "That's my intention." Selected as the State's basketball coach of the year in 1993, he was president of the Washington State Basketball Coaches Association from 1992-94. As a cross country coach, his Ferris girls squad won a state title in 1991 and was runner-up in 1990. Before coming to Ferris, he coached five years in Moses Lake and nine years in Oregon where he also won a State basketball title. As a basketball letterwinner at Eastern from 1966-69, he averaged 6.9 points in 85 career games, and added 74 assists as a junior and senior. He averaged 11.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore. He was team captain in 1968 and was selected as most inspirational in 1969. He received his bachelor's degree from Eastern in 1969 and obtained his master's degree from Oregon State University. He also graduated from Mary Walker High School in Springdale, Wash. Gilman passed away on April 25, 2001, after a 16-month battle with cancer.