University of Wisconsin La Crosse Athletics

Barbara Gibson retired after her 31st season as gymnastics coach of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2015-16.

"After 38 memorable years of teaching and coaching, including 31 incredible years at UWL, I have decided it is time for me to move on and retire," said Gibson.  "I have been so blessed to have the unconditional support and love of my husband Mark and our three children, Kelli, Kyle and Katherine throughout my coaching career.  They have been amazing fans of UWL and especially UWL gymnastics.  I'm looking forward to more leisure time with family, grandchildren, friends and volunteer opportunities."

Completing her 31st season (1986-2016) as head coach in 2015-16, Gibson led UWL to its second straight National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championship March 18 in Brockport, New York.  The Eagles earned the team title with a school record score of 193.650.  Gibson led UWL to all 17 of its NCGA titles in school history, including 12 in the last 16 seasons.  The 17 national titles are the most in NCGA history.  She has been named the NCGA Coach of the Year six times in her career (1989, 2001, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2015).

Gibson led UWL to the 2016 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) title March 4 in Mitchell Hall, the Eagles' league-record 23 championship in school history.  It was UWL's 18th conference title in the last 23 seasons.  Gibson led the Eagles to 20 WIAC titles in her 31 seasons as head coach.
 
"I must thank Bill Vickroy and Keith French for hiring me and to Mary Mc Lellan, Bridget Belgiovine, Doug Hastad, Paul Plinske, Paula Knudson and Kim Blum for their continued support and encouragement of UWL gymnastics throughout my coaching career," said Gibson.  "I'm thankful for the support I have received from both my teaching and athletic colleagues, the athletic department, the numerous assistant coaches and of course, the La Crosse Community, especially the Quillin, Skogen, Weber and Zietlow families."

"Barb's passion, guidance, expertise, and love for her student-athletes are evident in everything she does," said Blum.  "The devotion Barb has for the sport of gymnastics and for her gymnasts, has resulted in the tightest knit group of alumni I have ever witnessed in sport, a true testament to the impact she has had on her student-athletes over the last 31 years."

Selected the WIAC Women's Gymnastics All-Time Coach in 2012 in conjunction with the conference's Centennial Celebration, Gibson was named the WIAC Coach of the Year six times (1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2004). UWL had eight of the 17 gymnasts named to the WIAC All-Time Team.

She finished her career with a record of 806-205 (.797) in 34 seasons as a collegiate head coach, including 774-201 (.794) at UWL.  Prior to coaching at UWL, Gibson coached at Sauk Prairie (Wis.) High School, Southern Illinois University (graduate assistant), Southern Arkansas University and Butler Gymnastics Club (Pa.).

Among her team's accomplishments at UWL, Gibson had 16 WIAC Scholar-Athletes, eight College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-Americans®, 70 NCGA Academic All-America selections and 209 athletic All-America honors.  UWL had 32 NCGA and 78 WIAC individual champions under Gibson.

"I have been so fortunate to work with so many motivated, determined, smart and dedicated young women who have blessed the UWL gymnastics program, and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse," added Gibson.  "Their presence and efforts in the classroom and in the gym have left a legacy of excellence and achievement that embodies what a true student-athlete is meant to be.  I will miss my daily interaction with this group the most.

"The student-athletes I've coached are and always will be a part of my second family."

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 a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III representative. 
 
She received a bachelor's degree in physical and health education from UWL in 1978, and earned a master's degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1981.  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 (WWIAC) champion on the balance beam for UWL.  She was also the conference champion in the floor exercise in 1978.  

Gibson was inducted into the UWL Wall of Fame in 2007 and to the La Crosse Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.  She was recognized with the YMCA's Outstanding Achievement Award in Sports in 1989.  To celebrate her dedication to the sport of gymnastics and UWL, the Barbara Gibson Endowment Fund for UWL Gymnastics was established in her honor during the 2009-10 season.
 
She and her husband, Mark, have three children, Kelli (Joe Korneta), Kyle (Katie) and Katherine and three grandchildren, Livia, Owen and Caden.