Coach Gilbert Wiggins enters his second season of his second coaching stint at NCCU. He will coach the outside linebackers 2008, after serving as defensive backs coach in 2007and defensive coordinator for the Eagles from 2001-02. Under Gilbert's supervision in 2001, the Eagles achieved the No. 1 total defense in NCAA Division II, holding opponents to 187.2 yards per game. NCCU was also second in pass efficiency defense (73.1), sixth in scoring defense (12.8) and eighth in rushing defense (80.1). After NCCU, Wiggins served as defensive backs and special teams coach at Winston-Salem State University in 2003, then as defensive coordinator at Virginia Union University in 2004. During the 2005-06 campaigns, Wiggins worked as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Livingstone College. He had been at Livingstone previously, spending eight years with the Blue Bears (1993-2000), including four seasons as defensive backs coach (1993-96), and four seasons as defensive coordinator (1997-2000). In 1997, he was awarded the NCAA Defensive Coordinator of the Year Award by the American Football Quarterly. While at Livingstone, his defense was ranked tops against the run in 1996 and 1997. He had the second ranked secondary against the pass in 1997, and ranked ninth in 1998. His defense ranked first in the nation in 1997, and he produced at least one All-CIAA defensive back for seven consecutive years. Wiggins played football from 1977-79 at Elizabeth City State University, starting three seasons as a defensive back. He continued his education at Shaw University, where he earn a bachelor's degree in sociology. Wiggins signed as a free agent with the NFL's Cleveland Browns in 1979, but his career was cut short due to illness.
