In his 16 years of coaching, Gibbs has won numerous state championships in Arkansas and Mississippi and has developed and administered coaching curriculum and player development programs for all levels of play and for all ages.
Gibbs holds a U.S. “A” license, a National Youth license, and The Football Association of Wales Preliminary Coaching Badge. He has served as a U.S. Youth Soccer Coach Education staff member, and as an Olympic Development staff coach in Mississippi and Arkansas. He is a lifetime member of the Professional Footballers Association (Great Britain) and as a teenager was signed to Cardiff City FC and later Newport County FC (Wales).

“As our Express Soccer and West U Rec leagues continue to grow and become more competitive, it becomes necessary to have a director of coaching--and we found one of the best,” said Renato Pereira, president. “Our community is very fortunate to have such a dedicated and passionate individual working on behalf of our children.”

The West U Club’s training staff uses coaches and professional trainers to teach soccer skills to the players. The club has not had a director of coaching for almost 10 years, Pereira said, but the expansion of the Club’s training staff and the acquisition of soccer fields on the South Campus has made the addition of a director of coaching essential in offering the players the best experience possible.

Gibbs will be responsible for coordinating training, player development curriculum, coaching education and the Club’s partnership with the Houston Dynamo. He plans to establish a core training staff and a program that attracts some of the best players in the area.

“West University Soccer Club has a long history and is in one of the largest soccer hot beds in the country,” Gibbs said. “The Club’s goals and mine align as well – to provide a positive environment where player development is the core focus. It’s a good fit and I’m excited about it.”

James Clarkson, director of youth development for the Houston Dynamo, said Houston is fortunate to have Gibbs join the Club.  “He has a genuine passion for the game of soccer and player development,” Clarkson said. “He is a fantastic asset to the Houston community.”   The West U Soccer Club provides competitive and recreational soccer programs to over 2,100 players--over 1,500 in the fall and 600 in the spring. The Club offers competitive programs at the Division I, Super II and Division II levels, as well as recreational Division III, developmental Division IV, along with one of the largest in-house recreational soccer programs for children ages 5-12.