Dec 19, 2019

David Gibbs joins Missouri's new football coaching staff

Posted Dec 19, 2019 9:36 PM

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Head Football Coach Eli Drinkwitz has tabbed veteran coach David Gibbs to join his new Mizzou coaching staff, as announced today. Gibbs, who will be part of Drinkwitz’s defensive staff, is a 26-year veteran of the coaching industry, including 11 seasons as a defensive coordinator in the college ranks, and nine seasons as a defensive backs coach for three different NFL teams. Position-specific duties for Gibbs will be detailed once the staff has been finalized.

Gibbs spent this past season as cornerbacks coach at Mizzou, and the Tiger defense performed very well under his guidance. In 2019, Mizzou’s defense ranked in the nation’s Top 20 in several major categories, including total defense (14th NCAA/3rd SEC– 312.0 avg.) and scoring defense (17th NCAA/6th SEC – 19.4 avg., while excelling as a Top 10 pass defense (eighth in passing yards allowed NCAA/second SEC – 179.3 avg.).

“Coach Gibbs is a great fit for our defensive staff,” said Drinkwitz. “He’s well-respected within the profession as a developer of talent, and he’s got invaluable experience at both the collegiate and NFL levels. I’m excited about his expertise and how he can help shape the philosophy within our defensive staff. I’m pleased to have he and Debbie and their family be part of our program.”

Gibbs came to Mizzou after spending four seasons (2015-18) as defensive coordinator at Texas Tech, where his defenses became known as one of the nation’s top turnover-creating units. In 2017, Tech led the Big 12 Conference and ranked sixth nationally with 29 forced turnovers on the year, including four defensive scores, which was the most by a Red Raider defense since 2001. From 2013-17, Gibbs’ defenses at Tech and Houston forced a combined 140 turnovers, which was tied for most in the nation among any defensive coordinator during that five-year span.

“I’m excited to be part of Coach Drink’s staff at Mizzou, it’s a great opportunity for me and my family,” said Gibbs. “I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Coach Walters, we did some good things here defensively last season, and we’ve got a great group of kids coming back who are excited to work hard to improve this program.”

Gibbs has previously served as defensive coordinator at Minnesota (1997-2000, Auburn (2005) and Houston (2013-14, and also took over as interim Head Coach for the Cougars’ appearance in the 2015 Armed Forces Bowl. In that game, Gibbs’ team posted the biggest fourth quarter comeback win in bowl game history, overcoming a 31-6 deficit with just 11 minutes remaining in the game to notch a thrilling 35-34 victory over Pittsburgh.

In his first season at the helm of the Red Raider defense, Gibbs preached the importance of forcing turnovers and the emphasis was very beneficial, as Tech went from a minus-13 turnover margin in 2014 to plus-2 in 2015. The Red Raiders picked off 15 passes and recovered 10 fumbles in 2015, a year after forcing just 15 turnovers altogether.

Gibbs quickly changed the defensive culture at Houston in quick order after his arrival prior to the 2013 season. The Cougars ranked as the third-most improved scoring defense nationally and ranked 20th in the country after allowing 21.8 points per game, a significant improvement from the 36 points per game Houston surrendered in 2012.

The 2013 Houston defense led the nation with 43 turnovers forced to help lead the Cougars to a nation’s best plus-25 turnover margin. Trevon Stewart led the nation and set a UH record with six fumble recoveries while Adrian McDonald led The American Athletic Conference with six interceptions.

The dramatic defensive overhaul under Gibbs continued in 2014 as Houston finished the regular season ranked 11th nationally in scoring defense at 19.5 points per game and 19th nationally in total defense at 334.6 yards per game. The Houston defense was fifth nationally with 30 takeaways, including 19 interceptions, a number that ranked sixth nationally.

Prior to Houston, Gibbs’ last collegiate coaching stop was in 2005 when he served as defensive coordinator at Auburn. The Tiger defense ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 15.5 points per game that season, while ranking 11th in sacks (39) and 16th in third-down defense.

On the professional level, Gibbs spent a combined nine seasons in Denver, Kansas City and Houston as a defensive backs coach. Teams sporting Gibbs on staff finished in the Top 12 of total defense five times and advanced to the NFL Playoffs on three occasions. Three players under Gibbs earned NFL Pro Bowl selections in Champ Bailey, John Lynch and Deltha O’Neal.

Gibbs received his NFL start in 2001 with Denver where in his first year, the Broncos defense ranked sixth in the league for interceptions and ninth in total defense. In 2002, the defense improved to sixth in total defense and third in passing touchdowns allowed. The following two years saw Denver advance to the playoffs as the Broncos ranked fourth in the NFL in total defense both seasons. Both years also saw the squad finish sixth in passing defense and in the Top 10 of scoring defense.

Following his one season at Auburn, Gibbs returned to the NFL in 2006 as a defensive backs coach with the Kansas City Chiefs. Gibbs spent three seasons with the Chiefs, assisting with a Kansas City defense that improved from 25th in total defense the year prior to his arrival to 12th overall. In 2007, the Chiefs improved to fifth in the league in passing defense while ranking fourth in passing touchdowns allowed.

The Chiefs allowed just one 300-yard passer in each of his first two seasons in Kansas City. After helping the 2008 Kansas City defense to finish ninth in turnovers forced, Gibbs moved to Houston where the Texans’ pass defense improved seven spots to 10th in the league in passing defense in his first year.

Prior to joining the professional ranks, Gibbs became the youngest coordinator on the FBS level at the time as the then-29-year old took over as defensive coordinator at Minnesota in 1997. Gibbs improved a Minnesota defense that had ranked last in the Big Ten in 1996 to one that was ranked eighth nationally in pass efficiency defense and scoring defense by 1999. His defense helped lead the Golden Gophers to back-to-back bowl games in 1999 and 2000.

Under Gibbs’ tutelage, Tyrone Carter won the 1999 Jim Thorpe Award and back-to-back All-America honors in 1998 and 1999. Defensive end Lamanzer Williams earned All-America honors in 1997 as Gibbs’ defense produced an All-American in three-straight seasons for the first time at Minnesota since 1961-63. In addition, defensive end Karon Riley was named the 2000 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year. Under Gibbs, six Minnesota defensive players earned first-team All-Big Ten honors while six more earned second-team honors.

Gibbs earned his first full-time coaching position in 1995 at the University of Kansas, where he coached the program’s defensive backs. The Jayhawks advanced to just their eighth bowl game in program history in Gibbs’ first year where they defeated UCLA in the Aloha Bowl. Defensive back Dorian Brew earned All-Big Eight honors in Gibbs’ first season while Tony Blevins and Jason Harris each earned All-Big 12 honors under Gibbs.

Gibbs began his coaching journey with back-to-back two-year stints as a graduate assistant at both Colorado and Oklahoma. Oklahoma won the 1991 Gator Bowl while Colorado collected wins in the 1993 Aloha Bowl and 1994 Fiesta Bowl with Gibbs on staff.

The Auburn, Ala., native was a four-year letterman at the University of Colorado from 1987-90. He started at defensive back for the 1990 national-title winning Colorado team and the 11-1 1989 team that finished fourth nationally in the final polls. Gibbs graduated from Colorado in 1990, earning Academic All-Big Eight honors as a senior.

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