Willie Gillus
Encyclopedia
Willie Harden Gillus in Emporia, Virginia
, is a former quarterback
in the National Football League
and Canadian Football League
. He is a former college head football coach and is currently an assistant college football coach.
in Norfolk, Virginia
. As a quarterback, he set various passing records in the history of the football progam, and led the Spartans to their only Division II football playoff appearance in 1984.
Gillus was a member of the Green Bay Packers
during the 1987 NFL season
, and then played five seasons in the Canadian Football League
. After his playing career was over, Gillus went into coaching in high school football in Surry County, Virginia
, during the late 1990s.
He later became head football coach at his alma mater, for two years (2003 and 2004), before serving one year as the Quarterbacks and Running Backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
of the Canadian Football League
(CFL) in 2005. Gillus is currently the Assistant Head Coach and Quarterbacks Coach at Elizabeth City State University
in Elizabeth City, North Carolina
, a position he has held since 2006.
Emporia, Virginia
Emporia is an independent city located within the confines of Greensville County, Virginia, United States. The population was estimated to be 5,927 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Emporia with surrounding Greensville county for statistical purposes...
, is a former quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He is a former college head football coach and is currently an assistant college football coach.
Pro Football Career and Coaching Career
He played college football at Norfolk State UniversityNorfolk State University
Norfolk State University is a four-year, state-supported, coed, liberal arts, historically black university located in Norfolk, Virginia. It is member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and the Virginia High-Tech Partnership.-Academics:...
in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. As a quarterback, he set various passing records in the history of the football progam, and led the Spartans to their only Division II football playoff appearance in 1984.
Gillus was a member of the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
during the 1987 NFL season
1987 NFL season
The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players...
, and then played five seasons in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. After his playing career was over, Gillus went into coaching in high school football in Surry County, Virginia
Surry County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 7,058 people, 2,619 households, and 1,917 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 3,294 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
, during the late 1990s.
He later became head football coach at his alma mater, for two years (2003 and 2004), before serving one year as the Quarterbacks and Running Backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
(CFL) in 2005. Gillus is currently the Assistant Head Coach and Quarterbacks Coach at Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City State University is a public, historically black college located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in the United States...
in Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina. With a population of 18,683 at the 2010 census, Elizabeth City is the county seat of Pasquotank County....
, a position he has held since 2006.