12 Essential Questions with

Tom Gilmore

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12 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS FOR . . . Tom Gilmore

Presented by Bill Cambria (Class of 1969)

Posted 8/26/04

INTRODUCTION

It has only been eight months since Tom Gilmore was selected as the new head football coach at Holy

Cross, and the 2004 season is about to get underway.  In that short period, Coach Gilmore has had 

to hire a staff, hit the recruiting trail, plan and conduct spring practice, get started on recruiting for 

next year, prepare for pre-season camp, and get the team ready for the opening game against 

Duquesne.  I sent these twelve questions to Coach Gilmore shortly after his selection, and he asked 

for some time to address other immediate concerns.  When I had not received answers by the time 

camp began in August, I figured it was not meant to be.  However, Coach Gilmore kept his word and,

with the assistance and cooperation of our CROSSPORTS Moderator, I am pleased to present his 

answers to this set of 12 Essential Questions.

Bill Cambria '69

Tom Gilmore Biography

1.	Congratulations on your selection as Holy Cross football coach.  Why did you have interest in 

applying for this position, and what is your overall view right now of the football program at Holy Cross?

            Holy Cross’ reputation speaks for itself.  I have always known it to be an excellent academic 

institution with a great football tradition and the best stadium in the Patriot League.  I had visited 

this campus many times over the years and I was always impressed with everything that the school 

has to offer.  Even though the program  has suffered some difficult times recently, I believe that the 

potential for success is still here.  We will have  to  put  in  some  work  to  realize  this  potential  

but  the infrastructure is in place to get back to the top.

2.            Over the past few years, even as Holy Cross has struggled to improve, other Patriot League 

programs have improved more quickly.  What more can be done to bring Holy Cross football to the top 

of the Patriot League?

                  We have to begin this process by outworking other people in all areas.  A great work ethic 

can solve a lot of problems, but we also have to improve on other fronts as well.   The players have 

worked hard in the off-season workouts and will be better prepared physically to meet the challenges 

of the game.  I have hired an outstanding coaching staff and they have worked long hours to devise 

schemes to put our players in the best positions to succeed on every play.  This is a great start, but 

we have to bring in more and better talent in the incoming classes to keep progressing in the right 

direction.

3.            What is your vision of the future of Holy Cross football, and what needs to be done to make 

that vision a reality?

            I believe that Holy Cross will climb back to the top of the Patriot League and compete in the 

national playoffs.  Once there, I believe that we can consistently produce nationally ranked teams.  

To make that a reality,  we have increased the scope of our recruiting efforts and started new 

fund-raising initiatives to help us improve our resources for recruiting, financial aid, equipment 

and technology.

4.            As part of the interview process, did you ask for any commitments from the Holy Cross 

administration for the football program, and were you given any?

            The most important factor that I was looking for was a sincere commitment to the football 

program.  If the administration was fully supportive of football at Holy Cross, I knew that we could 

accomplish much.  That support was very evident throughout the interviewing process.  It was clear 

that the administration had already discussed ways to improve the situation.  A significant proposal 

that has now been launched is the Crusader   Gridiron Club, which permits alumni to make restricted

 contributions to the football program in addition to their support of the Holy Cross Fund.

5.            What is your view of the football facilities (field, locker rooms, training facilities) at Holy 

Cross, and what improvements (if any) do you believe are needed?

            We have the best game facility in our league and one the best in the country at the I-AA level.  

We also have an outstanding weight room and a good practice facility.  We need to make 

improvements to the locker rooms and offices but these facilities are more than adequate for now.  

Some other projects have been planned that will address some areas of greater need in the 

department.  I don’t believe that facility issues are the biggest concern for football at this time.

6.            You had a late start on the 2004 recruiting season.  As a group, what is your view of the 

recruiting class you were able to bring to Holy Cross?  How can Holy Cross do a better job competing 

with other Patriot League teams in recruiting?

            Considering the circumstances, we were pleased with the results.  We did not get the quantity 

that we would have liked but we were able to get some good quality.   Several of the skill players in 

this class have the potential to make an impact during their first year.  The biggest factor that will 

help us with future classes is spring recruiting.  We need to identify top prospects earlier so that we 

can develop a longer and more productive relationship with them.  This will allow us to learn what is 

important to each prospect and expose them to the advantages that we can offer them.  We began this 

process for the recruiting class of 2005 this winter by purchasing several national scouting services 

and mailing letters to high school coaches nationwide.  We then visited high schools in 21 states in 

person during the May recruiting period.  Our efforts have provided us with an impressive list of top 

recruits from around the country. 

7.            How will the 2004 Holy Cross football team differ from those of recent seasons?  Will there 

be different offensive and defensive schemes? 

            You can expect high effort and enthusiasm throughout the games.  We will use multiple 

schemes on offense, defense and special teams and we will teach the players how to make the 

appropriate adjustments to the opponents’ schemes.   We will utilize a more sophisticated approach 

to the game but we have intelligent players that can learn the system and make the right checks.  We 

want our team to start each play with the confidence that we are in a position to succeed.  Obviously, 

we still have to execute the call to make each play work in our favor.

8.            You have been described as a very intense and hardworking person.  Is this a fair description, 

and how does that relate to your relationship with your players?

            I think that is an accurate description.  I believe that the coaches need to set the example in 

those areas and I have tried to impress upon our players the importance of those qualities.  Most 

players will respect that approach but it can be a tough at times with the coaches constantly pushing 

the players to be their best.  In the end, the players realize that we have to take that approach to 

achieve our goals.

9.            What are your preferences regarding future scheduling of out-of-conference games for 

Holy Cross?

            Scheduling football games is usually done years in advance.  We will play our league games 

and a few Ivies each year but I would like to add meaningful games in any open spots in future 

schedules.  Eastern I-AA football is excellent and I would like to investigate rekindling some regional 

rivalries if we can match some open dates.

10.            Now that you have achieved, for the first time, a head coaching position, how would you 

describe your future career objectives?

            This is where I wanted to be in my career.  I have a deep respect for the education that a 

young man can receive at Holy Cross, while developing his athletic potential to the fullest.  As a 

coach, I want to succeed on the field but it can’t be done at the expense of our players’ future.  It is

equally important to me to see our players win championships and to see them go on to successful 

careers in the field of their choice.  Holy Cross is one of a select few institutions that can provide the 

best of both worlds.

11.            What do you believe you and the Holy Cross administration can do to increase support for 

Holy Cross football from the student body, alumni and greater Worcester community?

            We need to get those groups back in the stands at Fitton Field.  Obviously, winning more 

games will increase interest in the program and attract bigger crowds to the games.  We also have 

plans to improve the game day atmosphere at the stadium by promoting the games locally, organizing 

alumni events in conjunction with home games, offering activities for younger children and bringing 

in outside food vendors to offer more variety.   In addition, we have to reach out to the student body 

and the community by getting involved in other activities outside of football like community service 

projects.  We need to reconnect our alumni and community with the football program by opening 

communication channels and keeping them better informed about the team.

12.            Is there anything else you would like to say to Holy Cross supporters, particularly those who 

enjoy the CROSSPORTS web site?

            This is an exciting time for Holy Cross Football.  We are doing everything possible to return 

this program to the championship level that the alumni and fans have come to expect.  As we start a 

new era, I hope that everyone will renew their support for the program.