Carl Gibbons joined the Aquinas College men’s basketball program as an assistant coach in 2024, bringing with him a wealth of collegiate coaching experience and a strong track record of success at multiple levels of the game. In his first season with the Saints, Gibbons helped the program achieve its highest win total and win percentage since 2021-22, along with the team’s first WHAC Tournament victory since the 2016-17 campaign.
Prior to arriving at Aquinas, Gibbons served two seasons as an assistant coach at Calvin University (2022–2024), where he helped guide the Knights to back-to-back MIAA regular season championships and a 2024 NCAA Division III Elite Eight appearance. Over his tenure, the Knights posted 25 wins in 2023–24—Calvin’s most in over a decade—and Gibbons coached multiple award-winning players, including two All-Americans, the 2023 MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, and the 2x MIAA Player of the Year.
Gibbons began his coaching journey at his alma mater, Northern Michigan University, where he served as a student assistant from 2018–2021 before being promoted to assistant coach in 2021–22. While with the Wildcats, he helped the team to an 18-win season—its highest since 2006–07—and a GLIAC Tournament runner-up finish. He worked closely with numerous standout players, including four 1,000-point scorers and the league’s top two scorers in 2018–19.
Originally from Houghton Lake, MI in the Northern Lower Peninsula, Gibbons earned his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education/Coaching from Northern Michigan University. He currently resides in Grand Rapids with his wife, Amanda, and their daughter, Isla.
Outside of basketball, Gibbons enjoys golfing, traveling, and spending time on the lake—boating, swimming, jet skiing, and fishing. He chose Aquinas because of the opportunity to grow as a coach at the collegiate level while living in the vibrant and welcoming Grand Rapids community.
