Waco Midway appears ready to name former TCU defensive coordinator Joseph Gillespie as its the next head football coach at a school board meeting on Jan. 29, pending board approval.

Gillespie, who from all indications was a late entry into the mix for this job, spent the last eight years in the college ranks, including the past two seasons at TCU where he was the Frogs' defensive coordinator.

He was named a finalist for the Broyles Award - given to the nation's top assistant - in 2022 when he helped TCU make it to the national championship against Georgia. TCU’s defense struggled in 2023 and Gillespie was dismissed on December 10.

Prior to his time in Fort Worth, Gillespie spent six seasons at Tulsa where started out coaching linebackers before he was promoted to DC in 2019.

Gillespie is quite accomplished as a high school coach as well. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Stephenville under head coach Art Briles. Gillespie was part of two state title teams in 1998 and 1999. In 2008, Gillespie was promoted to head coach at Stephenville, replacing Chad Morris, who would later go on to be a head coach at SMU and Arkansas. In seven seasons leading the Yellow Jackets, Gillespie posted an impressive 72-23 record, including a Class 4A-Division I state championship in 2012. Gillespie also led SHS to a state semifinal appearance in 2013 and regional final appearances in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

Gillespie’s son, Jake, recently wrapped up his senior season playing for two-time state champion Aledo and signed to play collegiately at Stephen F. Austin. The decision to return to the high school ranks is certainly impacted by Gillespie’s desire to watch his son compete at the next level.

He takes over a Midway program that showed great improvement in 2023 with a share of the 12-6A district title, but the upcoming UIL Realignment announcement on February 1 will be huge for the Panthers, who could go north into a DFW district or remain in Central Texas. There's also a scenario where the Panthers move out of Region II, so next Thursday will be a big day for the Midway overall.