HEAD COACH | TONY GIBSON

Tony Gibson was hired as the 32nd head coach in Marshall Football history on Dec. 8, 2024, bringing a talented in-state coach back home to lead the Thundering Herd.

"The 32nd Head Coach in the history of our program is coming home!” said Christian Spears, Marshall Director of Athletics. “He is a proud Boone County native with an enormous wealth of coaching experience that will continue to elevate and honor the tradition of success of Marshall Football. We have recruited a proven coach that aspires to be at Marshall and to sustain the success we have come to appreciate and expect. We can't wait to get started with him and his staff."

Marshall University President Brad D. Smith said that the university is bringing home a proud West Virginian who has seen national success.

"We could not be happier to welcome Tony Gibson home as our 32nd head coach at Marshall University," 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!"

Gibson comes to Marshall after serving as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at N.C. State where he has spent the last six seasons.

While at N.C. State, linebacker Payton Wilson won the Bednarik Award (NCAA’s defensive player of the year) and Butkus Award (NCAA’s top linebacker) in 2023 and was later drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 3rd round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Wilson was also ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American.

In 2021, Gibson was nominated for the Broyles Award, which is given to the nation's top assistant coach. That honor was obtained after N.C. State’s defense ranked 2nd in the ACC in scoring defense (19.7 points) and led the ACC in interceptions (15).

A three-decade coaching veteran, Gibson also has been an assistant and coordinator at West Virginia (2001-2007 & 2013-18), Arizona (2012), Pitt (2011) and Michigan (2008-10).

Gibson has been to 16 bowl games in his career and has coached five All-Americans, 22 players who have gone on to professional careers and 27 all-conference performers.

Gibson played defensive back in college at Glenville State where he was a member of two WVIAC championship teams.

The native of Van, W.Va., brings his family to Huntington: his wife, Kerry, and children Cody and Ashton.