Lusk, or “Coach Gil” as he is affectionately called, began his coaching career in the spring of 2011 while still playing football at UVa-Wise. As a standout varsity catcher at Powell Valley High School, the two-time All-District LPD and two-time 2nd Team All-Region D catcher was named head junior varsity baseball coach, and the assistant to varsity head baseball coach Mike Rhodes at Appalachia High School. His primary focus was the pitchers and catchers on the varsity team, and he also called every pitch thrown that year. Unfortunately, Appalachia High School would be consolidated and closed that following Fall of 2011, and Lusk continued his studies at UVa-Wise while also playing football. Lusk played mostly as a special teamer his first two seasons but would eventually become a starting slot receiver during the final two years of his playing campaign. He earned academic honors at both the NAIA and NCAA levels. He was two-time Academic All-Conference in both the Mid-South and the Mountain East Conference(s) (four total), as well as two-time Academic All-American in both the NAIA and NCAA Division II (four total). Coach Gil, the player, also received The Mountain East Athletic Director’s Award twice, along with the Charlie Price Award; given annually to the senior football player who displays hustle, commitment, character, and spirited teamwork. He would go on to graduate from UVa-Wise in 2015 with Cum Laude academic honors and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. After a brief stint in sales, Lusk returned to the gridiron in 2017 to coach alongside his father, head coach Dewey Lusk, at Bluefield University. Originally hired on as a volunteer, Coach Gil has now been a full-time employee of the school for over four years. In that time span he has coached wide receivers and is now working as the running backs’ coach. Lusk recently received his master’s degree in Business Administration from Bluefield University.
