University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Gymnastics Camps

Coaching Staff

Instructors in our program will primarily consist of UW-La Crosse gymnasts who have been involved with the sport of gymnastics for 12 or more years.

Head Coach Barbara Gibson

Entering her 24th season as gymnastics coach of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2008-09, Barbara Gibson has developed the system to continually turn out one of the most successful Division III gymnastics programs in the nation.

“As I look at the gymnastics program the last 23 years, UW-L’s tradition and reputation of academic and athletic excellence is what has inspired me to lead the gymnastics program to national and WIAC acclaim,” says Gibson. “It has been my hope to assist each of my athletes in growing and progressing personally, as well as, in their sport. It has been paramount that my athletes enjoy and have fun with their passion for gymnastics. Our program has continued to progress each year and we’ve been able to recruit athletes from one year to the next that can contribute to our goal, which is to finish in the top-three in the country.”

With the success she has enjoyed with the Eagles’ gymnastics program, Gibson continues to work to enhance all areas of her program to continue the degree of excellence that has built a Division III gymnastics dynasty. One of the most important factors to Gibson’s success as a coach has been how she leads and relates to her athletes. “The most important goal is for each person to realize their potential and recognize their value to the team’s effort," says Gibson. “Individually, if they reach their goals, they realize the potential they possess and are more confident to utilize it. As a team, if individuals reach their goals, the team will be ultimately successful. The gymnastics coaching staff works hard to bring out the best gymnastics in each member of the team, as well as, to teach life’s lessons of goal setting, teamwork, dealing with success, failure and challenges, taking pride in what we represent and the importance of relationships.”

A former conference champion gymnast herself, who also earned academic honors, she understands the commitment and dedication the sport requires being a successful student-athlete. Gibson was the 1975 Wisconsin Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion on the balance beam for UW-L. She was also the conference champion in the floor exercise in 1978. “Gymnasts are driven academically and athletically and it is our goal to assist them in being the best student-athlete possible,” says Gibson. “I tell recruits, you shouldn’t be happy in our program unless you are learning new things. We are going to push you. We want them to be better and we don’t want kids to come here and do what they have always done. The team’s grade point average of 3.51 in 2007 is testimony that the UW-L gymnasts are certainly driven and high achieving student-athletes.”

During her 23-year coaching tenure at UW-L, Gibson has led the Eagles to 12 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association championships -- ’86, ’88, ’95, ’97, ’99, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06 and again in 2008. In addition, she has guided the Eagles to 16 WIAC titles (’88, ’90, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07 and 2008).

Her peers around the league have recognized her success at UW-L and her support of collegiate gymnastics. She has been named conference Coach of the Year six times. She won the award in 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997 and again in 2005. Gibson received national honors in 1989, 2001, 2005 and 2008 when she was awarded the NCGA Coach of the Year award. She has also been recognized with the YMCA’s Outstanding Achievement Award in Sports, presented to her in 1989. Among her team’s accomplishments, Gibson has had 13 WIAC Scholar-Athletes, four CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, 42 NCGA Academic All-America selections and 142 athletic All-America honors. UW-L has also had 52 WIAC conference champions under Gibson. The 2008 squad boasted a 3.47 grade point average.

Gibson has been active in the governance of gymnastics at the conference and national levels, serving as WIAC Chair, NCGA Vice-President of the West Region and an NCAA Division III representative. She received a bachelor’s degree in physical and health education from UW-L in 1978, and earned a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1981.

She has compiled a career record of 634-159 in 26 seasons as a head coach, including a 602-155 mark in her 23 seasons at UW-L to go with the 12 national titles and 16 league championships. Gibson was inducted into the UW-L Wall of Fame in October, 2007.

She and her husband, Mark, have three children, daughters Kelli and Katherine and son, Kyle.

Program Coaches

Katie Henning - Team	Max Dallman - Boys	Jenna Swails - Team
Jamie Shervey - Pre-Team	Hailey Sommer - Pre-competitive	Cody Farley - Director
Gabi Hooper - Intermediates	Sam W - Intermediates	Jess Herrmann - Beginners
Chasey Rosen - Beginners	Anika Johnson	Kahlynn Hunt - Beginners

Eliza Grosshauser - Privates and Beginners