Recruiting Areas: Central Texas, East Texas
A decorated standout at Texas A&M, Brian Gamble joined the Incarnate Word staff in August of 2008 as the defensive line coach and was promoted to the defensive coordinator position in 2012 with the arrival of head coach Larry Kennan.
Gamble's defense shown throughout the 2015 season and they finished the year ranked first yards allowed per game among Division I programs in Texas. He directed a defense that finished fourth in the Southland Conference in points allowed and third in yards allowed. All-America linebacker Myke Tavarres was a superstar for the team recording 110 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. The team recorded 62 tackles for loss and 16 sacks while forcing 23 turnovers. They held four opponents under 300 yards of offense and only allowed 33 points in the final three games.
In 2015, the UIW defense finished 18th in the nation in fourth down conversion percentage, 21st in interceptions, 27th in total first downs allowed, 37th in passing yards allowed per game and 39th in total yards allowed per game.
The Cardinals played a full Division I schedule for the first time in 2014 and had the usual struggles of a program in transition. Gamble's defense had a lot of positive signs for things moving forward. The team recorded 24 sacks and despite playing a loaded schedule they were able to finish in the middle of the Southland Conference in many defensive categories. Nose tackle Corey Lee took a huge step forward earning second team all-conference honors after making 14.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks.
In his second season in charge of the defense, Gamble's squad took a major step forward. They recorded back-to-back shutouts against Texas College and Langston, the first two in school history, and they held four opponents to less than 10 points. They allowed 147.5 rushing yards per game and under 400 yards of offense per game for a second straight year. He had four players earn College Sports Madness All-Independent Second or Third Team honors in 2013.
When Gamble took over the defense his first change was to make the Cardinals a 3-4 defensive front. While there were some growing pains, the defense did not allow any opponent to reach 500 yards of offense in a game, a first for the program in 2012. In games against non-DI opponents, they allowed less than 150 yards rushing per game against some top flight offenses. In addition, they finished fourth in the LSC in passing yards allowed per game (216.0). Senior cornerback Devan Avery earned second team all-region honors and was a legitimate shutdown corner.
During the 2011 season, Gamble saw Robby Horton blossom on the defensive line and earn LSC honorable mention honors after being among the league leaders in both tackles for loss and sacks. The previous year, the defensive line played a key role in allowing just 136.1 rushing yards per game in the team’s first year in the Lone Star Conference.
In his first year with the program, Gamble’s defensive linemen played a big part in the team’s 5-5 record. The Cardinals finished 16th in the nation in tackles for loss per game and were 33rd in sacks per game.
A 2002 graduate of Texas A&M with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural development, Gamble was a highly-decorated Aggie standout, who lettered four years for former Aggie coach R.C. Slocum.
Gamble finished his career with 47 career starts, including 46 consecutive for the Aggies. He was a four-year starter who accumulated 341 total tackles and finished his senior season with 82 total stops, which was second-best on the squad. He began his career in 1999, earning the Big 12 Freshman-of-the-Year and Second Team Freshman All American when he racked up 60 tackles, including 10 for losses and two sacks, while starting 10 games. He followed up his debut with a solid sophomore campaign, leading the team in tackles with 110 while starting all 12 games at inside linebacker. At the conclusion of the season Gamble was named Honorable Mention, All-Big 12.
In 2001, Gamble received Third Team Pre-Season All America honors going into his junior campaign. In 2002, he was voted defensive team captain by his Aggie teammates and was also a member of the Butkus Award watch list that same year.
Before earning a full time position at UIW, Gamble was a graduate assistant at the University of Houston from 2005-07. He was part of a Houston team that won the Conference USA Championship in 2006 finishing 10-4.
Gamble arrived in Houston after spending one year as the linebackers coach at Kilgore College in 2004. He helped guide Kilgore to a 10-2 record and a #5 national ranking.
Gamble spent the 2003 season training for the NFL and served as a co-host on two Bryan/College Station radio stations that covered Aggie Football.
A lover of hunting, fishing and golf, Gamble comes from a long line of Baylor athletes. His mother played basketball there and his father was a football player. Even his grandfather played baseball at Baylor. His father, Lucky Gamble, is 17th all-time in football victories in the state of Texas with a record of 270-76-5 in 29 years as a head coach.
A native of Alto, TX, Gamble and his wife, Stephanie, reside in San Antonio with their son, Bossley, and daughter, Madelyn.
