2007 Inductee

Joe Gilliam Sr.

Joe Gilliam was born in Steubenville, Ohio in 1929. He showed outstanding leadership abilities even from his earliest school years. Gilliam attended Indiana University and later transferred to West Virginia State where he earned All-American honors as quarterback. Upon graduation, he continued his Post-graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh and received his Master's Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Kentucky in 1963.

From 1952-54, he served as the head football and basketball coach at Oliver High School in Winchester, Kentucky, where his football team captured the state championship in 1954.


Joe Gilliam worked under Coach John Merritt at Jackson State University from 1955-58 before accepting his first collegiate head-coaching job at Kentucky State University. After compiling a 2-13-1 record, he returned to the high school ranks in Danville, Kentucky before rejoining John Merritt and Alvin Coleman at Jackson State University.

The trio was lured to come to Nashville, Tennessee by Tennessee State University President Dr. Walter Davis to accept the challenge of rebuilding the TSU Tigers sagging football program. That trio formed one of the greatest coaching staffs that remained intact for 20 years from 1963-1983. Over a twenty-year span, Gilliam served as assistant coach, defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator, acting head coach and head coach of the TSU football program. During that span, Gilliam Merritt and Coleman's Tennessee State University Tigers compiled an amazing era record of 184-42-8 for a fantastic .803 winning percentage. Coach Joe Gilliam ruled the Tiger defense with a repetitiously executed discipline that stopped opponent's offenses like a steel curtain. His defenses dared opponents to rush or pass. One season, his defense led by All-American Defensive End "Too Tall" Jones and his hard hitting tiger teammates held their opponents to a NCAA record, minus yardage for the season. The coaching trio of Merritt-Gilliam-Coleman directed TSU to four undefeated seasons (1965, 1966, 1970, 1973). They rolled up seven Black National Football Titles in 1965, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1979 and 1982.

Coach Gilliam served TSU as Head Football Coach from 1989-92, earning 0VC Coach of the Year during 1990. Throughout his career, Gilliam sent several players to the NFL including the likes of Ed "Too Tall" Jones, first round pick of the Dallas Cowboys; Wyman Bryant of the Chicago Bears; James Mars of the Kansas City Chiefs; Claude Humphrey, a finalist for the NFL Hall of Fame; Joe "Turkey" Jones of the Cleveland Browns; his son, "Jefferson Street" Joe Gilliam quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers; and Richard Dent, Chicago Bear SuperBowl MVP and finalist for the NFL Hall of Fame.

Coach Gilliam earned honors from the Hall of Fame in West Virginia (1985), Tennessee State University (1983), National Football College Hall of Fame Contribution Award (1987), All-American Football Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award (1997), and Black Men of Middle Tennessee Foundation Award (2004).

 

Gilliam is an author, a much sought after national speaker, as well as a defensive football trainer. He continues to live in Nashville where he is actively giving service to the community.