An Ames native, Gibbons had the rare distinction of winning a national championship as an athlete and coach
Three-time All-American and two-time Big Eight champion, Gibbons  won a NCAA title (1981) with a 16-8 upset of Lehigh’s Darryl Burley
After his competitive career, Gibbons joined the staff of Harold Nichols (for two years) before a promotion to head coach on his 26th birthday when Nichols retired
In seven years as coach (1986-92), Gibbons’ teams were 93-32-1 in duals and finished in the top three nationally three times
The 1987 squad won the NCAA Championship (breaking Iowa’s string of nine straight titles) and four Cyclones earned individual titles
Gibbons went on to become one of the top color commentators for collegiate wrestling on TV