San Jose State football coach Claude Gilbert,...

San Jose State football coach Claude Gilbert, who led the Spartans to two conference titles as well as the 1986 California Bowl title, was fired in a dispute over recruiting.

Gilbert, 57, has been criticized for his inability to attract high school athletes and for his reliance on junior college transfers. All 21 of Gilbert’s new recruits announced last month are from junior colleges.

The coach, who has a 38-30-1 record in six seasons as head coach, has contended that the school lacks the scholarship funds needed to draw top high school players.