Jim Gush Named Linebackers Coach
1/28/2021 2:00:00 PM | Football
DENTON – Jim Gush has been named the Mean Green's linebackers coach, head coach Seth Littrell announced Thursday. This marks Gush's fifth stint working with Mean Green defensive coordinator Phil Bennett. The pair have spent 18 seasons together in stops at Baylor, SMU, Kansas State and Iowa State.
"I am very happy to add a coach the caliber of Coach Gush to our staff," Littrell said. "He has a wealth of experience that he can bring to our program. He's been very successful and his understanding and familiarity with Coach Bennett is a major asset as we look to take substantial steps forward defensively."
Gush most recently served as McNeese State's defensive coordinator in 2019 on Sterlin Gilbert's staff, helping the Cowboys to a 7-5 finish, directing a defense that held opponents to 25.9 points per game.
Prior to his arrival at McNeese State, Gush spent his previous two seasons at Navarro College, the second as head coach (in 2018), when he led Navarro to a 6-5 finish and an appearance in the Salt City Bowl.
Prior to Navarro College, Gush, a nearly 40-year coaching veteran, coached six seasons at Baylor (2011-16), where he was an assistant linebackers coach and defensive recruiting coordinator.
In 2016, linebackers Travon Blanchard (73 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception, forced fumble and a fumble recovery) and Aiavion Edwards (98 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks) each earned All-Big 12 honorable mention status under Gush's watch.
Three from Baylor's linebacking corps, the team's top three tacklers, earned 2015 All-Big 12 honors, as Grant Campbell (97 tackles, five tackles for loss), Taylor Young (80 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss) and Blanchard (84 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss) earned honorable mention recognition from the league's coaches.
During Baylor's 2014 Big 12 championship season, Gush mentored All-Big 12 honoree and St. Louis Rams draftee Bryce Hager and freshman All-American (and Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP) Young.
Gush coached All-Big 12 linebackers Eddie Lackey (first team) and Hager (second team) during Baylor's 2013 Big 12 championship season.
In 2012 Gush mentored three All-Big 12 honorees, first-teamers Hager (who led the league in tackles with 9.5 per game) and Lackey, as well as honorable mention nickel-back and eventual NFL draftee (Cowboys) Ahmad Dixon.
Gush's 2011 pupils included two honorable mention All-Big 12 selections in senior Elliot Coffey (defensive MVP in the Valero Alamo Bowl win and Denver Broncos signee) and sophomore Dixon.
Gush arrived in Waco from Stony Brook where he spent two seasons as assistant head coach for defense. As defensive coordinator at Stony Brook, his 2010 defense led the Big South in interceptions (17) and turnovers forced (26). In 2009, Stony Brook led the Big South in scoring defense, allowing a conference-low 15 touchdowns in six games. Senior linebacker Tyler Santucci was named 2009 Big South Defensive Player of the Year and four players earned All-Big South honors in 2009 and two in 2010.
Prior to Stony Brook, Gush spent six seasons (2002-07) as SMU's defensive coordinator. In addition to his coordinator duties, he also served as the position coach with the linebackers for one year and defensive backs for five seasons. The Mustangs led Conference USA and ranked 24th nationally against the run in 2006 under Gush. He coached Joe Sturdivant to All-CUSA accolades at safety in 2005 and 2006 and coached Vic Viloria to first-team All-WAC honors in 2002.
He coached from 1999 to 2001 at Kansas State, where he served as linebackers coach and the Wildcats ranked among the nation's top four in total defense all three seasons and made three bowl appearances with a 28-10 record. In 2000 Kansas State ranked fourth in the nation in total defense, while in 1999 the Wildcats were second in total defense and led the nation in pass efficiency defense. During the 1999 season, Gush coached Butkus Award runner-up and consensus All-American Mark Simoneau, who was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
Prior to Kansas State, Gush spent 12 seasons at Garden City Community College in Kansas, three as head coach and nine as defensive coordinator. He compiled a 29-7 win-loss record in three seasons as head coach and led Garden City to top 10 finishes each year – No. 7 (10-2) in 1996, No. 4 (10-2) in 1997 and No. 7 (9-3) in 1998. In 1997, Gush led GCCC to a Jayhawk Conference championship and a berth in the Red River Bowl, the national championship game. His 1996 squad played in the Real Dairy Bowl and his 1998 team won the Valley of the Sun Bowl. Garden City CC produced a first-team JC All-American every season Gush was a coach there and played in the Jayhawk Conference Championship game in 10 of his 12 seasons with the Broncbusters.
Gush began his collegiate coaching career at Albany in 1983 where he coached defensive backs. He moved to Iowa State in 1984 as a graduate assistant on Bennett's defensive staff serving as special teams coordinator and assistant defensive backs coach before moving to Garden City.
"I am very happy to add a coach the caliber of Coach Gush to our staff," Littrell said. "He has a wealth of experience that he can bring to our program. He's been very successful and his understanding and familiarity with Coach Bennett is a major asset as we look to take substantial steps forward defensively."
Gush most recently served as McNeese State's defensive coordinator in 2019 on Sterlin Gilbert's staff, helping the Cowboys to a 7-5 finish, directing a defense that held opponents to 25.9 points per game.
Prior to his arrival at McNeese State, Gush spent his previous two seasons at Navarro College, the second as head coach (in 2018), when he led Navarro to a 6-5 finish and an appearance in the Salt City Bowl.
Prior to Navarro College, Gush, a nearly 40-year coaching veteran, coached six seasons at Baylor (2011-16), where he was an assistant linebackers coach and defensive recruiting coordinator.
In 2016, linebackers Travon Blanchard (73 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception, forced fumble and a fumble recovery) and Aiavion Edwards (98 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks) each earned All-Big 12 honorable mention status under Gush's watch.
Three from Baylor's linebacking corps, the team's top three tacklers, earned 2015 All-Big 12 honors, as Grant Campbell (97 tackles, five tackles for loss), Taylor Young (80 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss) and Blanchard (84 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss) earned honorable mention recognition from the league's coaches.
During Baylor's 2014 Big 12 championship season, Gush mentored All-Big 12 honoree and St. Louis Rams draftee Bryce Hager and freshman All-American (and Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP) Young.
Gush coached All-Big 12 linebackers Eddie Lackey (first team) and Hager (second team) during Baylor's 2013 Big 12 championship season.
In 2012 Gush mentored three All-Big 12 honorees, first-teamers Hager (who led the league in tackles with 9.5 per game) and Lackey, as well as honorable mention nickel-back and eventual NFL draftee (Cowboys) Ahmad Dixon.
Gush's 2011 pupils included two honorable mention All-Big 12 selections in senior Elliot Coffey (defensive MVP in the Valero Alamo Bowl win and Denver Broncos signee) and sophomore Dixon.
Gush arrived in Waco from Stony Brook where he spent two seasons as assistant head coach for defense. As defensive coordinator at Stony Brook, his 2010 defense led the Big South in interceptions (17) and turnovers forced (26). In 2009, Stony Brook led the Big South in scoring defense, allowing a conference-low 15 touchdowns in six games. Senior linebacker Tyler Santucci was named 2009 Big South Defensive Player of the Year and four players earned All-Big South honors in 2009 and two in 2010.
Prior to Stony Brook, Gush spent six seasons (2002-07) as SMU's defensive coordinator. In addition to his coordinator duties, he also served as the position coach with the linebackers for one year and defensive backs for five seasons. The Mustangs led Conference USA and ranked 24th nationally against the run in 2006 under Gush. He coached Joe Sturdivant to All-CUSA accolades at safety in 2005 and 2006 and coached Vic Viloria to first-team All-WAC honors in 2002.
He coached from 1999 to 2001 at Kansas State, where he served as linebackers coach and the Wildcats ranked among the nation's top four in total defense all three seasons and made three bowl appearances with a 28-10 record. In 2000 Kansas State ranked fourth in the nation in total defense, while in 1999 the Wildcats were second in total defense and led the nation in pass efficiency defense. During the 1999 season, Gush coached Butkus Award runner-up and consensus All-American Mark Simoneau, who was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
Prior to Kansas State, Gush spent 12 seasons at Garden City Community College in Kansas, three as head coach and nine as defensive coordinator. He compiled a 29-7 win-loss record in three seasons as head coach and led Garden City to top 10 finishes each year – No. 7 (10-2) in 1996, No. 4 (10-2) in 1997 and No. 7 (9-3) in 1998. In 1997, Gush led GCCC to a Jayhawk Conference championship and a berth in the Red River Bowl, the national championship game. His 1996 squad played in the Real Dairy Bowl and his 1998 team won the Valley of the Sun Bowl. Garden City CC produced a first-team JC All-American every season Gush was a coach there and played in the Jayhawk Conference Championship game in 10 of his 12 seasons with the Broncbusters.
Gush began his collegiate coaching career at Albany in 1983 where he coached defensive backs. He moved to Iowa State in 1984 as a graduate assistant on Bennett's defensive staff serving as special teams coordinator and assistant defensive backs coach before moving to Garden City.
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