Womens Gymnastics

Womens Gymnastics - Coaching Staff

Head Coach Barbara Gibson

Entering her 23rd season as gymnastics coach of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2007-08, 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 22 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 22-year coaching tenure at UW-L, Gibson has led the Eagles to 11 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association championships -- ’86, ’88, ’95, ’97, ’99, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05 and again in 2006. In addition, she has guided the Eagles to 15 WIAC titles (’88, ’90, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06 and 2007).

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 seven times. She won the award in 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997 and again in 2005. Gibson received national honors in 1989, 2001 and 2005 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 12 WIAC Scholar-Athletes, four CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, 40 NCGA Academic All-America selections and 135 athletic All-America honors. UW-L has also had 51 WIAC conference champions under Gibson. The 2007 squad boasted a 3.51 grade point average.

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 607-158 in 25 seasons as a head coach, including a 575-154 mark in her 22 seasons at UW-L to go with the 11 national titles and 15 league championships. Gibson was inducted into the UW-L Wall of Fame in October, 2007.

She and her husband, Mark, have three children, daughters Kelli and Katherine and son, Kyle.

Year WIAC NCGA Record
1985-86 2nd 1st 39-12
1986-87 2nd 3rd 26-17
1987-88 1st 1st 26-5
1988-89 2nd 3rd 19-8
1989-90 1st 3rd 28-9
1990-91 2nd 7th 14-19
1991-92 2nd 4th 23-9
1992-93 2nd 5th 16-10
1993-94 1st 2nd 27-2
1994-95 1st 1st 22-2
1995-96 2nd 4th 17-10
1996-97 1st 1st 28-6
1997-98 1st 2nd 28-10
1998-99 1st 1st 29-3
1999-00 1st 2nd 31-4
2000-01 1st 1st 37-0
2001-02 1st 1st 37-5
2002-03 1st 1st 29-5
2003-04 1st 1st 33-3
2004-05 1st 1st 25-3
2005-06 1st 1st 16-4
2006-07 1st 3rd 24-8

Assistant Coaches

Kari DeLong is in her fifth season on the UW-L coaching staff in 2007-08. DeLong, a four-year letter winner for the Eagles, earned nine NCGA All-America honors during her career. She captured the national balance beam title twice (1997, 1998) and was the all-around champion in 1998. DeLong was second in the all-around in 1999. She also earned All-America recognition in the floor exercise and uneven bars.

DeLong was a seven-time All-WIAC selection, winning four individual titles.

Cody Farley and Jenna Houle are in their second seasons as assistant coaches for UW-L in 2007-08. Houle was a member of four WIAC and four NCGA Championship teams in her career as a gymnast for the Eagles. She earned six career NCGA All-America honors, including two national titles. Houle captured the balance beam in 2005 and 2006. She placed second on the beam in 2004. She finished second on the floor exercise at the 2004 and 2005 national meet and fith in 2006.

Houle currently holds UW-L records on the balance beam (9.875) and floor exericse (9.875). She won the beam and floor titles at the 2004 WIAC Championships.

Ann Fitzsimmons begins her first year on the UW-L coaching staff in 2007-08 after earning four letters for the Eagles. She was a member of four WIAC and three NCGA Championship squads at UW-L, earning two national All-America accolades. Fitzsimmons placed third on the uneven bars in 2007 and fifth on the balance beam in 2005. She captured the bars title at the 2006 WIAC Championships/NCGA West Regional.

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