Head Coach Barbara Gibson
Entering her 26th season as gymnastics coach of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2010-11, 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 25 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 25-year coaching tenure at UW-L, Gibson has led the Eagles to 14 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association championships -- ’86, ’88, ’95, ’97, ’99, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’08, '09 and again in 2010. In addition, she has guided the Eagles to 17 WIAC titles (’88, ’90, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08 and 2009).
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, 2008 and 2010 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 14 WIAC Scholar-Athletes, six CoSIDA Academic All-Americas, 47 NCGA Academic All-America selections and 162 athletic All-America honors. UW-L has also had 56 WIAC champions under Gibson.
To celebrate her dedication to the sport of gymnastics and UW-L, the Barbara Gibson Endowment Fund for UW-L Gymnastics was established in her honor during the 2009-10 season.
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 676-169 in 28 seasons as a head coach, including a 644-165 mark in her 25 seasons at UW-L to go with the 14 national titles and 17 league championships. Gibson was inducted into the UW-L Wall of Fame in 2007 and to the La Crosse Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
She and her husband, Mark, have three children, daughters Kelli and Katherine and son, Kyle.
