Springfield College

John Gibson, a native of London, England, enters his 22nd season as head women's soccer coach and full professor of physical education at Springfield College in the fall of 2021. 

Gibson has led the Pride to the NCAA Division III Championships Tournament in six of the last 10 seasons and eight times in the last 13 years, establishing the Pride as one of the top programs in the country. His clubs have registered an impressive 262-115-43 record.

Establishing itself as one of the best teams in the region, the Pride claimed its fourth-straight NEWMAC Championship in 2015, as Springfield College became the first team in conference history to emerge from the conference tournament advancing through all stages via penalty-kick shootouts. From there, the Pride has won back-to-back ECAC Division III Championships, making it six-consecutive seasons that Springfield College women's soccer has finished the season with a championship trophy.

In 2018, Springfield College had one of the best statistical seasons in program history, as the Pride returned to the NEWMAC Championship game for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons behind the play of freshman Kaleigh Dale and Sara Swetland. Dale, who was named the NEWMAC Women's Soccer Rookie of the Year, became the first student-athlete in program history to reach the 20-goal plateau in a single season, while Swetland broke the single-season record for assists with 12. 

Before coming to Springfield College, Gibson spent six years as a tenured senior lecturer in the department of physical education and sport science at the University College of St. Mark and St. John in Plymouth, England. He also has taught at Marshall University, the University of Dayton, and The Ohio State University. Gibson was the men's soccer coach at Marshall University for five seasons (1989-93) and was the Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 1990.

Gibson is a 1977 graduate of St. Luke's College in Exeter, Devon, England where he earned his degree in physical education. He received his master’s degree in physical education at Marshall in 1985 and Ph.D. in philosophy of sport at Ohio State in 1989. He is also a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and the recipient of the NSCAA Advanced National Diploma in 1986.

Coaching Highlights

• Has led the Springfield College women’s soccer program to seven NEWMAC Championships, including five out of the last nine, to go along with eight trips to the NCAA Championship Tournament.
• Coached six All-Americans, including the first repeat All-America selection, Vicky DiNatale, who was honored in both 2012 and 2013, and his most recent All-America selection, Bri Messier, in 2016.
• Has been named the NEWMAC Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year six times, including three-straight years from 2010-2012.
• Holds a career record of 294-171-55, and earned his 200^th-career victory at Springfield College in 2015.