PHOTO GALLERY: Gilbert Named Head Basketball Coach at Middlesboro High

Eddie Gilbert II has a new title as he was named as the new boys head basketball coach at Middlesboro High School, it was announced this past weekend. He was officially introduced at a press conference on Monday afternoon before local news media and the fans.

In recent years, Gilbert has served as an assistant coach for Middlesboro. He also has spent five years on the sidelines as assistant for the football team.

A 2009 graduate of MHS, Gilbert, who has deep ties to the school and community, starred in three sports — basketball, football and baseball. He played football at the University of the Cumberlands on a scholarship.

Gilbert is also the school's first-ever African American head coach in any boys varsity sport.

Dr. Ben Slusher is the athletics director at MHS. Interim superintendent for Middlesboro Independent Schools is Dr. Jamie Johnson. New superintendent Bill Jones, a longtime educator, administrator and coach in the Middlesboro school system, will assume the role on July 1.