Director of Athletics Don Grigsby announced the promotion of Tom Gillette to Head Men’s Soccer Coach on Friday, April 7, 2023.

Gillette, who has served as the interim coach since Dale Parker accepted the Lander head coaching position back in January, got the interim tag removed after an extensive search to find Parker’s successor. In Gillette’s first season as an assistant coach in Harrogate, he helped lead the Railsplitters to an eight-win improvement from 2021 during the 2022 campaign.

“It is a privilege to welcome Coach Tom Gillette to Lincoln Memorial University as Head Coach of our men’s soccer team,” said Grigsby. “This past year, Coach Gillette, serving as Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach, played a big role in creating a winning culture, both on and off the field. Tom understands our expectations for our soccer program and will provide great leadership and discipline for the young men.”

The coaching staff of Gillette and Parker helped turn around a program that went 2-13-2 (1-9-1 South Atlantic Conference) in 2021 to improve to 10-8-1 (6-5 SAC) and a SAC Tournament Final appearance in 2022. Gillette coached forward Harry Cooke, who was named the SAC Player and Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-America by the D2CCA.

Gillette came to Harrogate following five seasons as an assistant coach apart of Tim Chastonay’s staff at NCAA Division I Bellarmine of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

In the fall 2021 season, Gillette and the Knights finished with a bid to their second straight ASUN Championship while placing three student-athletes on the all-conference teams.

In the spring of 2021, Bellarmine's first in Division I and the ASUN Conference, Gillette and the Knights wasted no time in making their mark. Bellarmine secured the top seed from the North Division in the ASUN Championship after going 3-1 in league play while finishing the season ranked No. 9 in the Atlantic Region by the United Soccer Coaches. The memorable inaugural season in D1 included an ASUN Coach of the Year nod for Head Coach Tim Chastonay, four All-Conference acknowledgements and an All-Region laurel (Jonas Skulstad).

The 2019 campaign marked the most successful in program history for Bellarmine, which did not lose a match until the Sweet 16 of the NCAA II Tournament. The Knights went 16-1-5 overall and 10-0-4 in the GLVC. Both win totals set new program records. Along with an undefeated regular season, Bellarmine captured the GLVC Tournament title following a 3-2 victory over McKendree and secured its first-ever NCAA II Tournament berth. The Knights built a 30-game unbeaten streak bridging the 2018 and 2019 seasons and finished the year with a No. 13 national ranking. Tomas Bernedo, Micah Linscott and Eddie Williamson earned All-America accolades from the D2CCA, and Bernedo became the program's first GLVC Offensive Player of the Year.

Bellarmine finished 12-5-2 in 2018. At the time, the Knights tied both the most overall wins and the most conference victories (nine) in program history. Bellarmine finished second in the league and earned the No. 2 seed in the GLVC Tournament, where the Knights advanced to the finals. Jonas Skulstad became the program's first GLVC Defensive Player of the Year honoree.

In 2017, the Knights tied a then-program record with nine GLVC wins. Bellarmine's 11 overall victories were one shy of the program record at the time. The biggest highlight of the season came when Bellarmine defeated second-ranked and Final Four-bound Rockhurst 2-1. Williamson was named GLVC co-Freshman of the Year.

Gillette has served as the Director of Coaching at Oldham Soccer Club. He holds a USSF ‘B’ license and a Director of Coaching Diploma. He has also coached in the Kentucky Olympic Development program.

Gillette played three seasons (2012-14) at Francis Marion University in South Carolina and captained the team his senior season. During his summers in college, he played for National Premier Soccer League and Premier Development League teams Myrtle Beach Mutiny, Tampa Bay Marauders and Derby City Rovers. He began coaching in South Carolina while in college.

A native of London, England, Gillette attended the University of Nottingham in England and earned a bachelor’s degree in politics. He earned a master’s degree while playing at Francis Marion.