Jacksonville State University Athletics

Owen Kilgore begins his seventh season on the Jacksonville State coaching staff and his eighth with the program. Head coach John Grass promoted him from graduate assistant to full-time status prior to 2015. He will once again serve as cornerbacks coach at JSU in 2021 and will also coordinate the pass defense.
 
In his time at JSU, Kilgore has coached some of the nation’s best cornerbacks and led one of the top pass defenses in all of FCS. 
 
His 2020-21 unit saw five different players start at some point due to injuries, but still led the top defense in the FCS and one of the top defenses in the FCS. The Gamecocks held a school-record nine-straight opponents under 100 yards rushing at one point en route to winning their sixth Ohio Valley Conference title in seven years and earning the No. 4 National Seed in the FCS Playoffs.
 
Jacquez Payton started 11 of the team’s 13 games and led the way, earning All-OVC honors.
 
In 2018, the trio of Yul Gowdy, Payton and Malik Feaster saw most of the action at corner and produced for Kilgore’s unit. Gowdy was a freshman All-American and OVC All-Newcomer to lead the unit, one that helped JSU led the nation in defensive touchdowns and rank in the top 20 in interceptions. The Gamecocks rolled to an Ohio Valley Conference-record fifth-straight league title and into the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
 
His 2017 unit was lead by All-American Siran Neal, who was just the fourth Gamecocks ever invited to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl before being drafted in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. It was JSU’s first draft pick since 2013 and its highest since Eric Davis went in the second round in 1992.
 
Kilgore’s cornerbacks corps was a huge part of one of the top defenses in the nation in 2017. The Gamecocks ranked second in the FCS in total defense, third in rushing defense and fifth in pass efficiency defense. They posted a 10-2 record and won their fourth-straight Ohio Valley Conference championship to earn the No. 3 seed in the FCS Playoffs, the fourth-straight season earning at least the No. 3 seed.
 
JSU’s 8-0 record in OVC play was its fourth-straight perfect conference season, extending the longest active conference win streak in all of Division I football to 32 games. The mark is an OVC and JSU record and is the second-longest run in FCS history.
 
Kilgore’s 2016 cornerbacks unit was one of the nation’s best and bolstered a defense that was tops in the Ohio Valley Conference and one of the best in the nation. Led by All-American Jaylen Hill, the Gamecocks led the OVC and were seventh nationally in interceptions, while also ranking 16th nationally in defensive touchdowns.
 
Joining Hill on the All-OVC Team in 2016 was Reggie Hall, a duo that had two of a record three interception returns for a touchdown in the Gamecocks’ win over Eastern Kentucky. Kilgore’s corners helped a unit that was fourth in the nation in total defense and in the top 25 in passing yards allowed. That team also won its third-straight OVC title and posted JSU’s third-straight unbeaten season in OVC play.
 
The 2015 campaign took Gamecock football to new heights. A 13-2 record included a 12-game win streak that was one shy of the school record and also featured over 50 school records. The Gamecocks’ lone losses were to No. 6 Auburn in overtime and to North Dakota State in the FCS title game.
 
JSU was ranked No. 1 in the polls for the first time in school history and held that ranking for 11 weeks. The Gamecocks went unbeaten again in the OVC to win their second-straight title and was warded the No. 1 national seed in the FCS Playoffs. JSU stood up to that seeding, downing No. 7 Chattanooga in overtime in the second round before routing No. 8 Charleston Southern and No. 7 Sam Houston State in the quarters and semis, respectively.
 
Kilgore had an All-American in his backfield, with cornerback Jermaine Hough claiming multiple All-America accolades, as well as first team all-conference honors. The Gamecocks led the OVC and ranked 12th nationally in total defense (300.3 yards allowed per game), while also leading the OVC in rushing defense (120.9, 16th nationally) and passing defense (179.4, 18th nationally). The Gamecocks were 13th in turnovers gained and third nationally with 20 interceptions.
 
In 2014 as a defensive graduate assistant at JSU, Kilgore coached the cornerback position and put together film review and study throughout the season.  He was key in the development of Hough, who was earned First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors and was tabbed the Sports Network’s FCS All-American Third Team.
 
Kilgore came to Jacksonville after two years in Knoxville, Tenn., with the University of Tennessee’s football program.  His time at UT began as a walk-on to the Volunteers’ club as a defensive back in 2011.  He moved from the playing field to an administrative role with the program in 2012 as a student assistant in recruiting.  While in that role, he was responsible for finding, uploading and editing high school and junior college game footage for presentation and evaluation by the coaching staff.  Kilgore also aided in the organization of UT’s official and unofficial visits by prospects.  He organized and developed position coaches’ and coordinators recruiting area.
 
After spending time in off-the-field areas at UT, Kilgore moved to an on-field spot as a student assistant on the defensive side of the ball.  He assisted in weekly opponent film breakdown and putting together a scouting report.  He was instrumental in the defensive back drills and meetings and helped coach the scout team wide receivers, tight ends and special teams. Kilgore still remained active in a recruiting role as he assisted in various recruiting responsibilities and was responsible for the defensive recruiting board.
 
Prior to finishing his education at UT with a degree in recreation and sport management, Kilgore attended Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn., and was a member of the Lions baseball program in 2008-09.
 
Kilgore is a 2008 graduate of Whitwell High School and was a four-year letterwinner as a quarterback and safety.  He was a four-time all-region selection at WHS.
 
In the spring of 2017, Kilgore married the former Andrea Spencer.