Q-and-A With Head Coach Dan Gibson
By Kelley BrakoraSports Information Student Assistant
Track and field and cross country head coach Dan Gibson ran for the Scots as a college student in the early 1980s, serving as a captain for the Scots in 1982. He has been at the helm of the cross country program and the women’s track and field program since 1991.
How long have you been coaching in general, and how long have you been coaching women’s track and field here at Alma College?
“I’ve been coaching track and cross country since I was a senior in college, which would be about 22 years. I’ve been coaching track at Alma for almost 14 years - since 1991.”
What is your favorite thing about coaching the track and field and cross country teams at Alma?
“I’m very competitive and I enjoy helping our student-athletes compete in events around the country. In addition, I truly enjoy being around athletes and helping them to improve.”
Why did you become a coach? What made you decide to do this?
“Probably more by accident than anything, which is the way a lot of people end up in the coaching ranks. But like I’ve said, I loved track when I was in college and I just wanted to continue to be involved with the sport. I decided to start coaching at the high school level and when the opportunity was available, I wanted to come back here to Alma College.”
Who has had the biggest influence on your coaching?
“Dr. [Charles] Gray who was my coach when I was here. He still teaches some classes here, and he stops by and says hello. He was a very influential coach and had a very positive impact on me. I continue to hope that I am representing the College in a way that makes him proud.”
If you had the opportunity to coach any team, anywhere in the world, who would it be and where?
“If I could, I would love to coach an Olympic track team. I’m really a big Olympic fan, but unfortunately I don’t see that as a realistic possibility. But that would be the one thing I’d love to do – coach an Olympic track team.”
How would you describe your coaching style?
“The two things that come to mind are that I’m a cross between laid back and controlling. I’m not just going to post workouts on the board and have people go out and do them without feedback.”
Men’s Track and Field head coach Matt Chovanec on Gibson’s coaching style:
“Dan is hand’s on, the kind of coach that’s going to demonstrate and show what needs to be done, and that’s very important.”
What is the most rewarding memory or proudest feeling that you have had from coaching women’s track?
“In women’s track alone, we had a National Champion in the 1500 in 1995. When Amy Doucette won Nationals it was just the most memorable thing. We still watch that tape about once every year. That was a pretty special time for our program.”
What is your favorite quote or words that you live by?
“We have one on the window of my office: ‘Think of reasons for success not excuses for failure.’”
Track is more of an individual sport, with everyone doing his or her own events. With that in mind, why do you think it is important to be part of a team?
“We think it’s important and put emphasis on teamwork because the support of a teammate is invaluable. There really are a lot of team aspects to track like relays, helping each other at practice—those kind of things—and just competing against your own teammates to make everyone on the team better. Teamwork is extremely important in our program as we try to emphasize that throughout the year.”
What is the most important thing you want your players to gain from their experience in this program and from you?
“What I always tell people while they’re here, the one thing I want them to do is have positive memories of what went on in track. The memories I made at Alma College as a part of the track and field program are some of my most valuable in my life. I enjoyed the experience as an athlete so much that I wanted to come back as a coach and help other students at Alma have as memorable an experience as did. We want our student-athletes to leave here with positive memories and a positive impression of the school. We emphasize running a classy organization—representing yourself in the best way possible when we go to invitationals and meets. We’ve always been proud of our kids and the way they represent Alma College.”
Posted: Thu, February 3rd, 2005 at 12:08AM
