Gilbert Wiggins enters his eight season, including his sixth season as defensive coordinator, with the Shaw University football program.
Under Wiggins, the Bears led the CIAA in interceptions and ranked fourth in rushing defense. Defensive backs Jaleel Scroggins and Jay Boyd were selected to the All-CIAA first team in 2022. The year before, the Bears ranked third in the CIAA in total defense.
During the 2019 season, Wiggins helped lead the Bears to a 6-4 overall record and 5-2 mark in conference play. Three defensive players (Jaleel Scroggins, Kevin Sherman and Dast Sturkie) received All-CIAA accolades while two players (Da'Shawn Wallace and Akeythio Carson) garnered recognition on the CIAA All-Rookie Team. Shaw's defense ranked fifth in interceptions that year.
In 2018, Wiggins was instrumental in the Bears going 5-5 on the year, including a 4-2 mark in conference action. Wiggins was responsible for Shaw’s defense that ranked fifth in the league, anchored by linebacker Devon Hunt, the CIAA Defensive Player of the Year. Additionally, defensive back Jaleel Scroggins earned honorable mention honors.
In 2017, Wiggins had two players in Hunt and Scroggins earn All-CIAA first team honors. In 2016, Wiggins coached two athletes who earned All-CIAA recognition in Hunt and Keelan Jones. Hunt was named CIAA Defensive Rookie of the Year and joined Jones on the All-CIAA first team.
Wiggins has been part of a Shaw coaching staff that led the Bears to four victories in six games over crosstown rival Saint Augustine's since the annual contest was named the "Raleigh Classic" in 2016.
Before his arrival at Shaw, Wiggins coached at Green Hope High School in Cary, N.C. He helped guide the Falcons to a conference championship and three straight playoff appearances. Wiggins served all three years as defensive coordinator.
Prior to that, Wiggins spent his second stint at North Carolina Central University, where he coached defensive backs and outside linebackers from 2007-11 and served as defensive coordinator from 2010-11. He was also defensive coordinator at NCCU from 2001-03 where his defense led all NCAA Division II teams nationally in total defense. For his efforts, Wiggins was named NCAA Defensive Coordinator of the Year by Football Monthly magazine for the second time.
In 2005-06, Wiggins was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Livingstone College. This was his second stint at Livingstone – he had previously spent eight years on the Blue Bears’ coaching staff from 1993-2000, including four seasons as defensive coordinator (1997-2000). In 1997, Wiggins was named NCAA Defensive Coordinator of the Year for the first time after helping lead the Blue Bears to two CIAA football championships.
Wiggins was also an assistant coach at Winston-Salem State University (2003) and Virginia Union University (2004). He was the defensive backs coach at WSSU and defensive coordinator at Virginia Union.
Wiggins was a four-year letterman at Elizabeth City State University, starting three years as a defensive back (1976-79). Wiggins is married to Judy Parker Wiggins. He has two adult children with his daughter Tania and son Coty.
