James Gildon

Biography

James Gildon was hired as Eastern Illinois Director of Track & Field in August 2023, becoming the fifth director of Panthers track & field in the program's NCAA Division I history. He enters his third year leading EIU programs for the 2025-26 season. Prior to Eastern Illinois, Gildon served as Associate Head Coach for Track & Field at Bowling Green for ten years (2013-23), where he coached 11 NCAA Regional Qualifiers, 17 Mid-American Conference Champions, and athletes that set 23 school records. Before Bowling Green, he was an Assistant Coach at Fort Hays State (2008-12), coaching two NCAA Division II National Champions and nine All-Americans, including 24 NCAA National Qualifiers and nine conference champions. He also coached at Creighton Prep High School (2005-07), producing 20 Nebraska State Athletic Association qualifiers and 17 All-State athletes. Gildon competed in track & field at Loyola University Chicago, where he was a six-time All-Horizon League performer ranking in the school's top five for indoor and outdoor triple jump and long jump. He holds a Bachelor's degree from University of Nebraska Omaha (2007) and a Master's degree from Fort Hays State University (2009). A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Gildon is married to Jennifer and has two children.