Eric Gibson is in his first season with the RiverHawks and was named defensive coordinator by Head Coach Rob Robinson on Jan. 9, 2018.
Coach Gibson spent the last four seasons as defensive coordinator at Southwestern Oklahoma is credited in overhauling the Bulldogs' defensive scheme, finishing in the top-five of the Great American Conference (GAC) in total defense.
"I am excited about having Coach Gibson join our staff. He quickly rose to the top in our search for the Defensive Coordinator position," said Robinson. "With Coach Gibson's defensive mind set, he brings a wealth of expertise and energy that our players and fans will enjoy. He's a great fit to our football family and we are happy to welcome him and his wife, Jenn, to NSU"
While at Southwestern Oklahoma, Gibson has coached two All-Americans, five All-Region players, and two Cliff Harris Award finalists. Five of Gibson's student-athletes participated in postseason All-Star Games, and in 2014, he had the GAC Defensive Player of the Year (Devin Benton). Presently, Gibson has one current former student-athlete in the NFL, Trevon Hartfield who is presently signed with the Cleveland Browns.
In the past four seasons, Gibson's SWOSU defense played against 11 teams who made the postseason. In 2015, the Bulldogs won their final six games of the season to qualify for their first postseason game as a member of NCAA Division II, and was invited to play in the Live United Texarkana Bowl.
Prior to arriving to SWOSU, Gibson had four successful seasons in the junior college ranks of Kansas and Texas. He spent the 2013 season as the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach at Fort Scott Community College after two years at Garden City Community College and one at Blinn College.
He led a defense at Fort Scott CC last season that had eight players sign with four-year colleges, including three NCAA Division I signees, and the Greyhounds had one player earn First Team All-Kansas Jayhawk Conference honors. Prior to his year at Fort Scott, he spent two years on the other side of Kansas, serving as the Special Teams Coordinator, Linebackers Coach and Video Coordinator for Garden City CC.
While at Garden City, Gibson helped the Broncbusters to a 7-4 record in 2012 and a No. 20 final National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national ranking after they defeated No. 7 Copiah-Lincoln in the 2012 Mississippi Bowl. While working at Garden City, Gibson was also a member of the KJCCC Coaching Staff of the Year in 2012 and he coached six players to all-conference status and one All-American return specialist – Tyreek Hill. Additionally, he guided three special team players that earned conference or national player of the week awards during his two seasons.
The first full-time collegiate job for Gibson came at Blinn College, where he served as the Linebackers Coach and Video Coordinator for the 2010 season under head coach Brad Franchione. Gibson had four linebackers earn All-SWJCFC, including the SWJCFC Defensive Player of the Year and NJCAA All-American Princeton Jackson. The Buccaneers went on to finish the season ranked No. 10 in the national NJCAA poll after defeating No. 4 Arizona Western in the C.H.A.M.P.S Heart of Texas Bowl.
Gibson spent six seasons coaching high school football in Oklahoma at Putnam City HS and El Reno HS prior to returning to the college ranks. He was the defensive coordinator for his final three seasons with the Pirates, helping the school to two OSSAA quarterfinal appearances and he coached two players that earned Linebacker of the Year Awards for District 6A-2 (2008 & 2009) and he had 14 players earn postseason accolades during his five seasons.
Gibson started his coaching career at his alma mater, Central Oklahoma, where he served as a graduate assistant in 2002-03, assisting with the linebackers and defensive line. He had various recruiting and administrative duties while with the Bronchos and he was a member of the coaching staff in 2003 as UCO advanced to the NCAA Division II playoff quarterfinals.
A native of Ashland, Kan., Gibson holds two degrees from the University of Central Oklahoma, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Social Studies Education in 2000 and a master's degree of Adult Education in 2003. He and his wife, Jennifer, were married in 2016.
The Gibson File
Personal
- Hometown: Ashland, Kan.
- Wife: Jennifer
Education
- College: Central Oklahoma - Bachelors of Arts, Social Studies Education, 2000
- College: Central Oklahoma - Masters of Education, Adult Education, 2003
Coaching Experience
| 2002-03 |
Central Oklahoma (graduate assistant) |
| 2004 |
El Reno HS (assistant coach) |
| 2005-10 |
Putnam City HS (defensive coordinator) |
| 2010-11 |
Blinn College (linebackers coach/video coordinator) |
| 2011-13 |
Garden City Community College (linebackers coach/video coordinator) |
| 2013-14 |
Fort Scott Community College (defensive backs coach) |
| 2014-17 |
Southwestern Oklahoma (defensive coordinator) |
| 2018- |
Northeastern State (defensive coordinator) |
College Postseason Experience
| 2015 |
Live United Bowl (Southwestern Okla.) |
| 2012 |
Mississippi Bowl (Garden City CC) |
| 2010 |
C.H.A.M.P.S Heart of Texas Bowl (Blinn College) |
| 2003 |
NCAA Division II Quarterfinals (Central Oklahoma) |
