Marshall Hires Former WVU Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson as Head Coach

Marshall has its new head coach as NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson was named head coach Sunday afternoon.

Gibson has served five years as the defensive coordinator of the Wolfpack.

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

Before that, the West Virginia native had a six-year stint at WVU. He served as Dana Holgorsen’s defensive coordinator from 2014-18. Gibson also had a seven-year stay as WVU’s defensive backs coach from 2001-07.

“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 athletic director Christian Spears said in a statement. “We recognize the significance of the moment.”

Gibson interviewed for WVU’s head coach opening following Holgorsen’s departure in 2019. The Mountaineers ended up hiring Neal Brown, who was fired last week after six seasons.

Gibson’s contract with Marshall is reportedly for six years, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

NC State was 44-30 over the five years Gibson was on staff.

The official announcement came shortly after Charles Huff was hired away by Southern Miss earlier in the day. On Saturday night, Marshall dominated Louisiana 31-3 to win the Sun Belt title, the program’s first conference title of any kind since 2014.

The win in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game awarded the Herd their 10th win of the season, marking a new best during the Huff era.