Campus News

September 22nd, 2026

GC basketball court named for Gibson

Coach posted 714 victories in 36-year head coaching career

McHenry, MD – Garrett College’s Athletic Alumni Weekend was capped Saturday night by the announcement that the Lakers’ basketball court will be named for the coach who spent 36 years guiding GC’s men’s basketball program.

The Garrett College Board of Trustees voted to name the court for Dennis Gibson, who coached the Lakers’ men’s basketball team from 1985 to 2021. Jason Rush, chair of the Garrett College Board of Trustees, made the announcement at the Athletic Alumni Dinner – which, ironically, took place on the court that will now bear Gibson’s name.

“During his 36 years as head coach, Dennis recorded 714 victories,” noted Rush. “He guided the Lakers to five NJCAA Region 20 championships, three district crowns, and an appearance in the 2021 NJCAA National Final Four. The Board of Trustees voted last month to honor Dennis Gibson’s significant contributions to Garrett College by naming this floor ‘Dennis Gibson Court.’ ”

Gibson – who also served as GC’s athletics director and spent seven seasons as head women’s basketball coach – said that while the court is being named for him, “this recognition really isn’t for me.”

“It’s for all those people who helped build this program,” said Gibson, who then reflected on what made the program’s successes possible.

“We had no [on-campus] housing, a tiny gym, and a pasture for a [baseball] field, but we were able to recruit tremendous athletes and tremendous people,” Gibson said. “You can’t imagine the number of people who helped me – people who were willing to do anything for nothing. Amazing things can happen when you work together as a family.”

Gibson also thanked his actual family for their support.

“Both my sons played for me; both of my nieces played for me,” recalled Gibson. “And my incredible wife [Kerry Gibson] put up with me all of these years – and everyone who knows me knows that’s not an easy thing.”

Gibson also acknowledged two people “who are no longer with us” – his late assistant coach, Dave Martin, and the late Paul Mullan, who served for decades as “Voice of the Lakers.”

The alumni dinner culminated a weekend that included women’s and men’s soccer matches, a cookout for returning alums, and tours of the College’s athletic facilities. Many of the returning alumni hadn’t been on campus in decades, and were able to see the significant expansion of intercollegiate athletics teams and facilities for the first time.

“Since 2021, the number of student athletes has increased by 150 percent, college enrollment has grown by more than 33 percent, and our residence halls are at capacity,” reported Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College’s president.

Midcap noted that the College’s intercollegiate athletics expansion has positively impacted GC’s student success metrics.

“During the past academic year, 37 Garrett College student athletes were named to the NJCAA All-Academic Team,” said Midcap, adding, “Our baseball team had the highest team grade-point average (GPA) among all Region 20 baseball programs, and our women’s basketball and women’s soccer teams each finished with a 3.09 team GPA.”

Legendary former Southern Garrett High boys’ basketball coach Tom Bosley – who also coached GC’s men’s basketball team for three years in the 1980s – spoke on GC’s athletics history.

Bosley, Mike Saturday, Oren Yoder, and Kathy Fauber served as the Athletic Alumni Planning Committee. That group was supported by Garrett College’s athletics, student life, marketing and creative services, facilities, security, custodial, information technology, events, president’s office, and Garrett College Foundation staff.

“It took a lot of behind-the-scenes work from the Athletic Alumni Planning Committee and College staff to make this happen,” said Midcap.