Missouri Western State University Athletics

Community Function Liason
Recruiting Area: Nebraska / Iowa

Entering his second season at Missouri Western, Gary Salgado will once again coach linebackers and serve as the co-defensive coordinator.
 
2018
Last year, Salgado helped guide the Griffon defense to a No. 6 total ranking in the MIAA, allowing 361.8 yards per game. The Griffons rush defense (130.8) ranked second in the MIAA and 43^rd in the nation. Missouri Western was also second in the MIAA and 42^nd in the nation in takeaways (22). Salgado helped the Griffon defense produce 22 sacks which were the third most in the MIAA.
 
Salgado had two linebackers, James Huskey and Anthony Williams, receive All-MIAA honorable mentions. Williams led the team with 94 total tackles in his junior season. Huskey led the Griffons with 9.5 tackles for loss and was second on the team with four sacks.
 
Prior to Missouri Western
Salgado came to MWSU after five seasons as defensive line coach and director of football operations at Angelo State. There, the defensive line shined in 2017 with Markus Jones and Bright Ihegworo both earning all-region honors for their play. The duo combined for 13 sacks on the season and helped limit teams to just 180.0 yards per game. 

In 2016, Salgado coached ASU career sack leader Clayton Callicutt to his second Lone Star Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year award. Callicutt made 11.5 sacks and finished with 31.5 to top the ASU career sack list. The 11.5 sacks by Callicutt were the third most in a single season at ASU.

John Siliga and Jeremy Johnson earned second team All-LSC selections as well. The 2015 defensive line recorded 23.5 of the team’s 27.0 sacks and 68.5 of 92.0 tackles for loss. In 2014, Salgado coached a defensive line that registered 25.0 of the team's 31 sacks on the season while also registering 60 of the team’s 94 tackles for loss. Salgado guided John Siliga to second team All-LSC honors in 2014 and Joey Searcy IV to first team honors in 2013. Callicutt and Kyle Patterson were honorable mention selections in 2013 as well. 

Prior to Angelo State, Salgado served as linebackers coach at Eastern New Mexico during the 2010 season. Prior to coaching at Eastern New Mexico, Salgado spent two years as a graduate assistant at the University of Wyoming. He arrived at Wyoming from Fullerton Community College in Fullerton, Calif., where he served as a defensive assistant coach for four seasons, working with the defensive line and linebackers. His final season at Fullerton, he also coordinated the special teams.

During his four years at Fullerton Community College from 2003-06, the Hornets captured a Mission Conference Championship in 2003, posting a perfect 5-0 conference record and advancing to the finals of the Southern California Junior College playoffs. Salgado also helped coach the Hornets to the 2004 Golden Empire Bowl where they played Bakersfield College.
 
Personal
Salgado began his college playing career at Fullerton College as a defensive end from 1999-2001. He then continued his college playing career at West Virginia Tech University, an NAIA member school in Montgomery, W.Va. 

Originally from Garden Grove, Calif., Salgado graduated from Los Alamitos High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Chapman University in Orange, Calif., in 2005, and then earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Eastern New Mexico University in 2011.

Salgado and his wife Justine reside in St. Joseph with their twins, Georgia and Maverick. He is the son of Blanca and Gilbert Salgado, and has one brother, Gilbert.