July 1, 2004

DETROIT - Wayne State University Director of Athletics Rob Fournier announced today the hiring of Ernie Gilbert as the Warrior women's volleyball coach effective July 12. Gilbert replaces Limin Jin, who resigned in early May.

"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."

Gilbert joins the WSU staff after serving as an assistant coach at Cleveland State University the past season. 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.

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

Gilbert is the father of five children and is married to the former Jennie Schuermann, who was a three-year volleyball letterwinner at Miami University.