Tony Gibson to take over as NC State defensive coordinator
Tony Gibson shared defensive coordinator duties with Dave Huxtable at N.C. State this season.
Gibson will have the job by himself next season.
Two days after Huxtable’s firing, the school announced Wednesday that Gibson will be the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Wolfpack.
Gibson spent most of his career at West Virginia and was hired by N.C. State coach Dave Doeren before the 2019 season.
Gibson helped the Wolfpack make the switch from a 4-2-5 to a 3-3-5 alignment. N.C. State lost the final six games of the season and finished 4-8.
The Wolfpack finished the regular season ranked No. 83 in scoring defense and No. 101 in pass defense.
Gibson was also the safeties coach. He replaces Huxtable, who had been Doeren’s coordinator since 2013, as the primary coordinator.
“I look forward to building our defense with Tony Gibson as the leader,” Doeren said in a statement released by the school. “He has a strong vision for what we need to do on defense and his knowledge of our personnel and recruits will help us design the structure of our defense around our talent.”
Gibson worked at West Virginia for Rich Rodriguez from 2001 through ‘07 and then followed Rodriguez to Michigan in ‘08 for three seasons. He returned to West Virginia in 2013 and worked for the Mountaineers through the ‘18 season. He was paid $750,000 by WVU this past season and $200,000 from N.C. State.
Gibson has two years remaining on his contract with N.C. State and his salary will increase to $500,000 annually, since his contract with WVU is done.
“I’m very honored and excited to be named the defensive coordinator,” Gibson said in a statement released by the school. “ I look forward to helping continue the growth of these young men and to be a part of a great staff here at NC State.”
