Update: 9:23 p.m. ET

McNeese State has confirmed that USF offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert will be their next head coach.

Sterlin Gilbert named head football coach for the McNeese Cowboys @McNeeseSports https://t.co/eHBtzVKtha — McNeese Football (@McNeeseFootball) December 6, 2018

“I am extremely honored to be the head football coach at McNeese. I’m excited to meet with our players, laying out the vision, culture, and how we will directly invest in their success,” Gilbert said in an officially release. “I look forward to meeting and creating new relationships with high school coaches and recruiting their great student athletes to McNeese. Geaux Pokes!”

Football Scoop initially broke the report on Wednesday morning that Gilbert would be taking over the FCS program.

Sources: Sterlin Gilbert to be next McNeese State head coach https://t.co/Y9T4dA1sHm — FootballScoop Staff (@FootballScoop) December 5, 2018

Gilbert was hired by USF in January 2017 and previously served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under head coach Charlie Strong at Texas in 2016.

As The Daily Stampede reported last week, the much-maligned play-caller’s first two years at USF were subsidized by the Texas contract, which allowed for USF to only pay him $100,000 for 2017 and 2018.

Gilbert does have coaching experience at the FCS level, as he was named FCS Coordinator of the Year at Eastern Illinois in 2013.

With tempers flaring from the USF fanbase in recent weeks, the move seems like a good fit for all parties involved.

USF will get an opportunity to shift their offensive philosophy and shake the “status quo” moving forward and Gilbert will get a fresh start in running a program with close proximity to his home state of Texas.

Gilbert will fill the vacancy in Lake Charles, LA, left behind by former McNeese State head coach Lance Guidry, who the school parted ways with on Nov. 20 following a 6-5 season where they missed the FCS playoffs.

For the Bulls, the million-dollar question now becomes who fills his place.

But for now, we can celebrate finally getting revenge on McNeese State after five and a half years.