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Bryson Gibson will have a new job for the coming basketball season. Hampden-Sydney College basketball coach Caleb Kimbrough announced this week that Gibson has been promoted to Associate Head Coach. 

Gibson has served as an assistant coach for the past five seasons, including the most-recent 2023-24 campaign that witnessed the Tigers finish with a final school record of 31-3, while attaining just the second NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship National Runner-Up finish in program history.

“Bryson has had a significant impact on this program, the Hampden-Sydney community, and me since he arrived on campus in 2019,” said Kimbrough. “He has an energy and positivity in his personality that is lighthearted and encouraging to those around him, while also professionally carrying himself in a way that is respected and commands a room. This is a much-deserved promotion!”

Gibson has played a major role in the daily operation of the program since June of 2019, helping Hampden-Sydney to an overall record of 83-38, including 45-23 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). The Tigers won their record 11th ODAC Tournament Championship this past season while playing in a record 16th ODAC Tournament Title contest. It was the Garnet & Grey’s finest season in 25 years (1998-99, National Runner-Up, 29-3), attaining their first 30-win season and only the sixth 25-win season in program history, also the 17th overall 20-win season and the second consecutive 20-win effort to mark the first time since 2002-03 (28-4) and 2003-04 (25-5) with back-to-back 20-win seasons.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as Associate Head Coach,” said Gibson. “Hampden-Sydney has been home for my wife Callie and I, and it is an honor to be here. I have been fortunate to work with great people and be around phenomenal student-athletes. I appreciate the trust that Caleb has put in me and I look forward to continuing to grow in this role.”

‘Bryson has played a key role’ 

H-SC finished 14-13 overall, 8-8 in the ODAC, during 2019-20 with the 14 wins surpassing the win-total from the previous two seasons combined (10). The Tigers finished as one of the most improved teams in Division III with its +8 turnaround from the previous season. Following the pandemic season of 2020-21 (2-4, 1-3), H-SC was 14-11 overall, 8-8 in the ODAC, during 2021-22 and finished 22-7 overall, 14-2 in the ODAC, during 2022-23 while advancing to the second round of the Division III Tournament-the program’s first postseason appearance since 2012-13.

“Bryson has played a key role in our basketball success over the last five years,” added Hampden-Sydney Director of Athletics Chad Eisele. “I know the team and Coach Kimbrough appreciate all he puts into the program, and this title lets everyone know how much we count on his leadership.”

Gibson had previously served as the director of basketball operations at Division I Elon University during 2018-19. He was an assistant coach at his alma mater, William Peace University in Raleigh, North Carolina, from 2016-18. The Pacers finished 15-11 overall during 2016-17, a new school record for wins at the time, and Bryson was also the WPU head cross country coach during 2017-18. Gibson was an assistant coach for one season at the Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill during 2015-16.

Bryson Gibson is a 2015 Cum Laude graduate of William Peace with a Bachelor of Science degree in political science. He was a three-year team member with the Pacers, earning USA South Conference All-Academic Team honors during all three years (2013-15). WPU was the USA South regular-season runners-up during his senior year when the program finished 13-13 overall, including 9-5 in the conference, the latter a program-best at the time, as well.

Bryson and Callie reside in Hampden-Sydney.

Bryson Gibson praised by players 

Members of this year’s team praised Bryson Gibson, saying he helped them on and off the court. 

“Coach Gibson was a huge part in my growth as a basketball player and as a man over my five years at H-SC,” said Hampden-Sydney fifth-year player Ryan Clements. “He pushed me every day to be better and I am thankful for that.” 

Clements’ teammate, Davidson Hubbard, said Gibson was a key reason the team went to the national championship. 

“He’s been a huge part of this program before and during my time here and has played a tremendous role in why this team got to where it did,” Hubbard said. “He holds us to a high standard, alongside Coach Kimbrough, and has always seemed to have a part of that head coaching job in a way he carried himself during his time here and how he connected with the players and families involved.”