Super Bowl Champion Becomes a Teke

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Tau-Eta Chapter at Southern Connecticut State University initiated a new member this May, New York Giants Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride. Frater Kevin was visiting the campus, and his alma mater, to show off the Super Bowl Champions Trophy when the chapter approached on becoming a member. He ecstatically agreed and went through the rituals of the Fraternity.

About Frater Kevin Gilbride

Frater Kevin Gilbride is in his second full season as the Giants' offensive coordinator after serving the previous three years as the team's quarterbacks coach. Gilbride assumed play-calling duties from former coordinator John Hufnagel prior to the 2006 regular season finale in Washington.

With Gilbride devising game plans and calling plays, the Giants' offense compiled many impressive numbers during the 2007 season. The Giants scored 373 points in 2007, the fifth-highest total in franchise history. They scored more than 30 points six times during the season, their highest total of 30-point games since 1963, when they had 10 - including three 40-point games. The Giants' 321 first downs were the fourth-highest total in team history. The 1985 Giants hold the franchise record with 356 first downs, followed by 1986 (324) and 2002 (323). The Giant' 5302 total yards were the seventh-highest total in franchise history.

The Giants finished the season ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing yardage with 134.3 yards a game. That was their highest ranking since 1993, when the Giants were first with a 138.1-yard average.

The offense continued to perform well in the Giants' four-game postseason, when Eli Manning completed 60.5 percent of his throws and threw six touchdown passes. With the Giants trailing by four points in the waning moments of the Super Bowl, Manning directed the offense down the field on an 83-yard drive, that culminated in the game-winning touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds remaining.

Frater Gilbride joined the Giants' as the team's quarterbacks coach on Jan. 26, 2004. He was reunited with Tom Coughlin, for whom he worked as the Jacksonville Jaguars' first offensive coordinator in 1995 and 96. Gilbride has also coordinated offenses for the Houston Oilers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills. The 2008 season is Gilbride's 34th in coaching and 19th in the National Football League.

As quarterbacks coach, Gilbride was at the forefront of the development of Manning, the No. 1 selection in the 2004 NFL Draft. In 2005, under Gilbride's guidance, Manning led the Giants to the NFC East title while throwing 557 passes, the third-highest total in the league and the second-highest total in team history. Manning's 294 completions tied for ninth in the NFL and placed him fourth on the Giants' single-season list. His 3,762 yards were fifth in the NFL and fifth on the franchise's single-season list. Manning threw 24 touchdown passes, the most by a Giant since Fran Tarkenton had 29 in 1967.

In 2006, Gilbride's last as quarterbacks coach, Manning threw 522 passes, the sixth-highest total in Giants history. He completed 301 of those throws to become just the second quarterback in franchise history to top 300 completions in a season. Manning threw 24 touchdown passes, matching his 2005 total and leaving him tied for fourth in the NFL with St. Louis Pro Bowler Marc Bulger. Manning became the first Giants quarterback to throw at least 20 touchdown passes in consecutive seasons since Phil Simms did it three years in a row from 1984-86.

Manning's development under Gilbride became evident in the latter part of the quarterback's rookie season in 2004. In the last three games of the year, Manning completed 53 of 87 passes (61 percent) for 527 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. In the season-ending victory over Dallas, Manning threw three touchdown passes and led a 66-yard drive in the final two minutes for the winning score.

Prior to joining the Giants, Gilbride spent two years as the Bills' offensive coordinator. In his first season in Buffalo, the Bills set seven offensive team records, including most net passing yards (3,995). Quarterback Drew Bledsoe set 10 team records. That year, Buffalo had the fifth-best passing offense in the NFL and was 11th overall while averaging 23.7 points, 22.2 first downs, and 349.4 yards per game. That offense featured the franchise's first 4,000-yard passer in Bledsoe, two 1,200-yard receivers (Eric Moulds and Peerless Price) and a 1,400-yard rusher (Travis Henry).

Gilbride entered the NFL as the quarterbacks coach of the Houston Oilers in 1989. He was promoted to offensive coordinator from 1990-93 and then to assistant head coach/offense in 1994. The Oilers ranked first in the NFL in passing yards in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. Houston also ranked first in the league in total offense in 1990, second in 1991, third in 1992 and second in 1993.

Frater Gilbride's first stint with Coughlin began in 1995, when Gilbride took over as the offensive coordinator of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars. The following year, the Jaguars led the NFL with 259.7 passing yards per game and were second in total offense with 360.2 yards per contest, a performance that helped Jacksonville to the AFC Championship Game in just its second year of existence.

After two years in Jacksonville, Gilbride was named the 10th head coach in San Diego Chargers history on Jan. 19, 1997 and posted a 6-16 record over the course of the 1997-98 seasons. He spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons as offensive coordinator with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2001, Gilbride was an analyst with ESPN.

Prior to joining the NFL, Gilbride spent two seasons (1985-86) in the Canadian Football League as an assistant with the Ottawa Rough Riders.

Gilbride began his career as the linebackers coach at Idaho State in 1974-75. He held the same position at Tufts University in 1976-77. Gilbride was the defensive coordinator at American International and the head coach at his alma mater, Southern Connecticut State University, from 1980-84.

Gilbride was born in New Haven, Con., and earned a degree in physical education from Southern Connecticut State, where he also played quarterback and tight end. He received his master's in athletic administration from Idaho State. He and his wife, Deborah, have three children - daughters Kelly and Kristen and son, Kevin. Kelly is a 1998 graduate of Harvard University, Kristen graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1999 and Kevin graduated from the University of Hawaii in 2003.

FRATER GILBRIDE AT A GLANCE

• 1974-75 - Idaho State - Graduate Assistant
• 1976-77 - Tufts University - Linebackers Coach
• 1978-79 - American International - Defensive Coordinator
• 1980-84 - Southern Connecticut State - Head Coach
• 1985-86 - Ottawa Rough Riders - Quarterbacks/Receivers
• 1987 - East Carolina - Passing Game Coordinator
• 1988 - East Carolina - Offensive Coordinator
• 1989 - Houston Oilers - Quarterbacks Coach
• 1990-93 - Houston Oilers - Offensive Coordinator
• 1994 - Houston Oilers - Assistant Head Coach/Offense
• 1995-96 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Offensive Coordinator
• 1997-98 - San Diego Chargers - Head Coach
• 1999-00 - Pittsburgh Steelers - Offensive Coordinator
• 2002-03 - Buffalo Bills - Offensive Coordinator
• 2004-06 - New York Giants - Quarterbacks Coach
• 2007-08 - New York Giants - Offensive Coordinator

Adapted from Giants.com. If you would like to see your chapter news here, contact Communications Coordinator Tom McAninch.