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Kelley Gibson (Maryland `99) enters her second season on the Maine coaching staff in 2008-09. Gibson worked with the guards in her first season in Orono and helped mentor freshman Tanna Ross, who was named to the America East All-Rookie Team. Gibson came to Maine after spending a year as an assistant coach at UMBC. Gibson worked with the guards and post players, as she helped guide the Retrievers to the 2007 America East Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The trip to the NCAAs marked the first time the program had appeared in the tournament. Gibson also assisted in the recruitment of players. Prior to UMBC, Gibson spent a season as a graduate assistant coach at American University in Washington D.C. At American, she assisted in practice planning and team travel. Prior to her coaching career, Gibson played professionally in the WNBA, NWBL, Russia and in Israel. She played for the Houston Comets of the WNBA from 2000-04 and helped lead the team to the 2000 WNBA title. Gibson ranks eighth on Houston's all-time list for games played. She also had stints with the New York Liberty (WNBA), Chicago Blaze (NWBL), Houston Stealth (NWBL), Club Dynamo in Moscow, Russia, and Maccabi Ashdod of Israel. Gibson was honored by the WNBA in 2003 with the Off-Season Community Assist Award for her efforts in working throughout local communities. Gibson played her collegiate basketball at the University of Maryland at College Park. She was an ACC honorable-mention player in 1999, and was named to the 1996 ACC All-Rookie Team. She earned those honors despite suffering three ACL injuries during her career. She also served as a team captain during the 1998-99 season. Gibson's name can still be found in the school's reccord books among the leaders in three-point shooting, assists, steals and blocks. Gibson graduated from Maryland in May of 1999 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology. Gibson attended Maryland after a stellar high school career where she led Easton (Md.) High School to a pair of state championships. She had her jersey retired after setting the school record for career points (2,200) and rebounds (1,008). She has a street named in her honor in her hometown of Easton. Gibson is a member of the WBCA and the Black Coaches Association. "Her resume speaks for itself," Maine head coach Cindy Blodgett said. "She's been a winner at every level. That was one of the key ingredients I was looking for, and I found that in Kelley. |
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