Shortly after Southern Mississippi announced the hiring of Charles Huff, Marshall University confirmed that Boone County native Tony Gibson is the 32nd head coach in program history.
Gibson will be introduced at a press conference at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, in Encova Auditorium at the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation.
𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑻𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚, 𝑪𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝑮𝒊𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒏!!
Marshall Football announces Tony Gibson as the 32nd head coach in program history.
🔗: https://t.co/haMi9SSgHn pic.twitter.com/c2YOVr99re
— Marshall Athletics (@HerdZone) December 8, 2024
“We could not be happier to welcome Tony Gibson home as our 32nd head coach at Marshall University,” Marshall University President Brad Smith said. “Coach Gibson has led some of the top programs on the national level, but in the end, his heart desired to return to the mountains from which he came.
“Coach Gibson has prepared his entire life for this moment, a moment where his talent, experience and love for the state will combine with the storied tradition of Marshall Football to take us to the next level. Go Herd!”
“Finding the right person to lead the Thundering Herd Football program is one of the most important decisions we will make in Marshall Athletics,” Marshall Director of Athletics Christian Spears said. “We recognize the significance of the moment. We want to thank our President Brad D. Smith for his leadership, his principle-based approach and thought partnership as we made this decision.”
The Van, W.Va. native has extensive football ties in the state of West Virginia. Gibson was a member of two West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship teams at Glenville State.
He served two stints on the coaching staff at West Virginia University (2001-2007 & 2013-2018). He has spent the last six seasons as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at North Carolina State. Gibson has also been an assistant at Michigan, Pittsburgh and Arizona.