Ball State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Promotes Gilfillan To Assistant Coach
June 25, 2010 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State men's basketball head coach Billy Taylor announced that director of basketball operations Mitch Gilfillan has been promoted to assistant coach Friday afternoon. Gilfillan spent the past season in the operations position and played collegiately for Taylor at Lehigh University.
"I am thrilled to announce the promotion of Mitch Gilfillan to an assistant coach on our Ball State coaching staff," Taylor said. "Mitch has been an integral part of our basketball programs dating back to his undergraduate days as a former student-athlete at Lehigh. He has traveled a different road through the college coaching ranks, but his experiences, background and completion of law school gives him a unique perspective on our staff. He has shown the commitment, diligence and professionalism necessary for success. I am extremely proud of his efforts for our program and look forward to even greater contributions in the future."
Gilfillan, a Morton, Ill. native, spent the past year as the director of basketball operations for the Cardinals and was a four-year letterwinner for Taylor at Lehigh. During his career the Mountain Hawks posted a 69-50 record, including a 20-11 mark his sophomore year as Lehigh claimed its first ever Patriot League regular season and tournament championship, which led to a berth in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. He left Lehigh as part of the all-time winningest class in Mountain Hawk basketball history.
"I am humbled and honored by the opportunity coach Taylor is giving me," Gilfillan said. "Having the privilege to be a student-athlete under him was special. Now, I'm excited to help him bring championships back to Ball State as an assistant coach. As one of the youngest head coaches in America, coach Taylor's track record of academic excellence and athletic success is remarkable. His leadership and winning attitude is contagious; you want to be a part of this program."
Gilfillan earned Patriot League All-Rookie honors as a freshman when he led the league in three-point shooting during conference action. As team captain during his senior campaign, he helped Lehigh post the third most wins in school history with a 19-12 mark, including a school-record 11 Patriot League victories. He led the Patriot League with the highest assist/turnover ratio as the Mountain Hawks' starting point guard.
Gilfillan also received numerous awards off the court at Lehigh as he earned the Undergraduate Merit Award, Outstanding Service Award, Coaches Awards and the Southside Booster Award. He graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He earned a Juris Doctor from Valparaiso School of Law in 2009 and was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society, the executive board of the Trial Advocacy Team and represented the law school on the 2008-09 steering committee.
Gilfillan moves into the assistant coach role after replacing Joseph Price who accepted an assistant coaching position at Morehead State.
"I am really happy for coach Price and his new opportunity," Taylor said. "Joseph has spent the last eight years as an assistant and a primary recruiter in the state of Indiana so this should be an excellent new challenge for him to further develop and advance his career. He was a terrific member of our coaching staff that brought dedication, hard work and loyalty to Ball State University and our basketball program."
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