Tommy Gilstrap, defensive coordinator for the Bainbridge High School varsity football team the past three seasons, will be leaving to accept a position with Head Coach Mike Falleur’s Villa Rica High School Wildcats.

Villa Rica is located west of Atlanta off Interstate 20. In addition to defensive coordinator, Gilstrap was also defensive secondary and strength and conditioning coach for BHS, roles he will also handle at Villa Rica.

“I have really enjoyed my time here with Coach Pilcher,” Coach Gilstrap said. “I have a lot of respect for him. He tried to hire me when he was head coach at Thomas County Central High School, but the teaching position didn’t work out.”

“I am having to leave for family reasons. I have also known Coach Falleur for some time. I worked with him in 1989 at Griffin High School and we have coached together for several years, off and on.”

Two of Coach Gilstrap’s 2010 defensive secondary players, senior free safety Rohan Gaines and senior cornerback Shawn Samuels, recently signed college football scholarships. Gaines will attend the University of Arkansas and Samuels will attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“Rohan and Shawn’s success was the result of their hard work and dedication on the field and in the weight room,” Coach Gilstrap said.

A 1979 graduate of Roswell High School, where he played linebacker and running back, Coach Gilstrap went on to Georgia Southern University, where he graduate in 1984 and played linebacker under the late Coach Erskine “Erk” Russell.

Coach Pilcher said Gilstrap has been a real asset to his football program.

“Coach Gilstrap has done an outstanding job with our defense and with our student athletes in the weight room,” Pilcher said.