Shortly after, Gilbertson departed for the Los Angeles Express of the newly-formed United States Football League (USFL), where he coached as offensive coordinator for three spring seasons.

Following the demise of the league, Gilbertson returned to Idaho in 1985, and the Vandals won their first Big Sky Conference title in fourteen years.

[5] Following consecutive conference championships and advancing to the Division I-AA semifinals, Gilbertson interviewed at UTEP in December 1988 but withdrew from consideration.

[10][11] After three wins to start the 1988 season, the Huskies finished 6–5 and 3–5 in conference, with losses to the USC Trojans, the UCLA Bruins, the Oregon Ducks, the Arizona Wildcats and the Washington State Cougars.

He resigned prior to the end of the season but remained the head coach through their last games; his record at Washington was 7–16 (.304) [14] He then returned to the Seahawks as an assistant under Mike Holmgren.