Dick Gibney

Dick Gibney
Biographical details
Born(1943-12-09)December 9, 1943
Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 25, 1986(1986-02-25) (aged 42)
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
1963–1966Springfield
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1967–1969Kingswood School
1969–1976Boston University
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1974–1975Boston University (Acting AD)
1976–1985Syraucse (Associate AD)
1985–1986Lehigh
Head coaching record
Overall90–15 (.857)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1976 Yankee Conference championship
Awards
2x New England wrestling coach of the year (1970, 1975)

Richard Phillip "Dick" Gibney' (December 9, 1943 – February 25, 1986) was an American coach and administrator who was the head wrestling coach at Boston University and athletic director at Lehigh University.

Wrestling

A native of Saratoga Springs, New York, Gibney attended Springfield College and was a member of the wrestling team that finished the 1965–66 season with the #1 ranking in the NCAA College Division.[1] He earned a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Springfield in 1966 and a master of education degree from the same college the following year.[2]

Coaching

After graduating from Springfield, Gibney became the wrestling coach and assistant athletic director at the Kingswood School in West Hartford, Connecticut. In 1969, he became the head wrestling coach at Boston University, which had reinstated wrestling as a intercollegiate sport after a 13-year absence.[1] During his tenure as head coach, Gibney led BU to a 90–15 record. 15 of his wrestlers won New England championships and 11 competed in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.[3] He led BU to its first undefeated season in 1972–73 and its first Yankee Conference championship in any sport in 1975.[2][4] He was named New England wrestling coach of the year in 1970 and 1975.[3]

Administration

In 1974, Gibney was named assistant to the director of athletics at Boston University. When AD Warren Schmakel left to take the same job at Illinois State University later that year, Gibney was named acting athletic director.[2] He remained in this role until John Simpson was hired the following year.[5] In 1976, Gibney left BU to become the associate athletic director at Syracuse University.[3] He was a finalist for the athletic director's job at California State University, Fullerton in 1981, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1983 and the University of Oregon in 1984.[6][7]

On January 1, 1985, Ginbey became the athletic director at Lehigh University.[8] On February 25, 1986, campus police found Gibney's body in the shower next to his office. According to Northampton County Deputy Coroner Ed Madden, Gibney had tied a leather athletic jump rope around an overhead heating pipe and hanged himself.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Gibney Is Named B. U. Mat Coach". The Day. June 9, 1969. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Gibney New Boston U. Athletic Head". Schenectady Gazette. August 30, 1974. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Monahan, Bob (July 1, 1976). "Gibney resigns as Terriers wrestling coach". The Boston Globe.
  4. ^ Cadigan, Barry (February 16, 1975). "BU wrestlers win Yankee title by record total". The Boston Globe.
  5. ^ Dupont, Kevin (July 8, 1975). "The Sports Log". The Boston Globe.
  6. ^ "Young seeks Hawaii post". Altus Times. July 8, 1983. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  7. ^ Withers, Bud (July 27, 1984). "Four finalists for UO job". Eugene Register-Guard. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "Lehigh AD named". Reading Eagle. March 6, 1986. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  9. ^ "Rites Private For Lehigh U. Athletic Head". The Morning Call. February 27, 1986. Retrieved November 21, 2024.