The Wayne State University volleyball program completed its fourth year under head coach Ernie Gilbert in 2007. WSU Director of Athletics Rob Fournier announced the hiring of Gilbert as the Warrior women's volleyball coach effective July 12, 2004.

"Ernie brings an impressive resume in recruiting, on-court coaching and program development and his background with both city and suburban recruitment will be a measurable benefit," stated Fournier. "With coach Gilbert's experience, we have attracted a proven talent with a record of accomplishment."

In his first year with the Warriors, Gilbert produced two Second Team All-Great Lakes Region players in libero Sei Hee Hwang and middle blocker Elisa Joris. Hwang was also honored as the GLIAC Libero of the Year as she averaged an NCAA Division II record 7.08 digs per game. WSU finished the season with an 11-14 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the South Division at 6-11.

In 2005, the Warriors improved to 16-10 overall and 8-9 in the very competitive GLIAC. In addition, Joris was named All-American by both the AVCA and Daktronics after leading the nation in blocks per game (1.79).

Gilbert joined the WSU staff after serving as an assistant coach for one year (2003) at Cleveland State University. He previously spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech following one year (1994) as the head coach at Tennessee State.

"I am very excited to be at Wayne State," said Gilbert. "I have been looking forward to this opportunity for the last 20 years since my coaching career started."

A 1973 graduate of Ball State University, he began his collegiate coaching career in 1983 at Ohio State University under Jim Stone. In five seasons (1983-87) at OSU, the Buckeyes compiled a 109-63 record. In 1988 he served as the head coach at Division III Ohio Dominican and recorded a 25-29 mark.

In 1990 he was named assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky under Geri Polvino. In three years (1990-92) with the Colonels, he helped the squad to an Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title in 1991 and the OVC tournament championship in 1990. He also coached four First Team All-OVC selections and two conference Players of the Year.

Gilbert helped the Bowling Green Falcons to a 20-11 overall record and second-place finish in the Mid-America Conference in 1993 before taking the reins at Tennessee State.

In eight years at Tennessee Tech, he assisted in the Golden Eagles earning the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic award twice (1997 and 2001) and also the school's first NCAA tournament appearance in 1997. During his tenure at TTU, he coached five First Team All-OVC selections, six all-freshman/newcomer team honorees and seven Second Team All-OVC selections.

TTU won the 1997 OVC tournament and finished the campaign with a 23-10 record. The following year, the Golden Eagles went 22-7 and placed second in the OVC.

In 2003, the CSU Vikings had an 18-16 mark and advanced to the second round of the Horizon League tournament.

Gilbert, the father of five children, lives in Canton with his wife Jennie and their daughter Aislyn (7).

Ernie Gilbert's Career Record
	Overall				Conference
School/Year	MP	Won	Lost	Pct.	Won	Lost	Pct.	Finish
Ohio Dominican/1988	54	25	29	.463	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Tennessee State/1994	27	2	25	.074	0	18	.000	N/A
Wayne State/2004	25	11	14	.353	6	11	.333	4th/South
Wayne State/2005	26	16	10	.615	8	9	.471	4th/South
Wayne State/2006	22	1	21	.045	1	16	.059	6th/South
Wayne State/2007	25	10	15	.400	5	12	.294	4th/South
Career	179	65	114	.363