John Gibbs was born October 16, 1946 in Raytown, MO, the son of John Gibbs, Sr. and Lois Gibbs. John was a 1964 graduate from Raytown High School and obtained a teaching degree from William Jewell College. John played college basketball at Central Missouri State and later William Jewell College where he was named most inspirational player on the team in 1970. He then received a Master of Science from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, MO.
He taught and coached at Stewartsville High School in Stewartsville, MO from 1971-73 compiling a 46-25 record, including Stewartsville’s first trip to the state basketball tournament. Gibbs moved on to Perryville High School in Perryville, MO after one year as an assistant coach at Penn Valley Community College and coached there from 1974-1977. From 1978-1981 Gibbs coached at Kirksville High School in Kirksville, MO where he led Kirksville to the school’s first state tourney in 25 years in 1979.
In 1981, Gibbs took over the basketball program at Peru State College in Peru, NE that had won only 15 games in the previous three seasons and by 1982-83 guided the Bobcats to a 19-13 record, tying the University of Nebraska-Kearney in Nebraska Athletic Conference competition and finishing as conference co-champions. The Bobcats were often in conference contention in the 1980s against larger schools such as UNK, Wayne State and Chadron State, going 19-12 in 1985-86, 16-12 in 1988-89 and 17-14 in 1989-90.
Gibbs led the 1992-93 PSC Men’s basketball team to a record of 27-6, reaching the NAIA DII national quarterfinals and a #5 national ranking, the first trip to the national playoffs in 27 years and currently the highest season win total and national ranking for a PSC basketball team in the school’s history. In 1996-97 the Men’s basketball team again made the NAIA national playoffs with a record of 25-9 (tied for second in PSC single season wins), winning the NAIA Midwest region and finishing with a national ranking of #16.
In 1982-83, 1992-93 and 1996-97 Coach Gibbs won NAIA district/regional coach of the year awards. Gibbs coached at PSC for 22 years finishing as the winningest coach in Bobcat history with 287 wins. He was known to be a relationship builder as he pushed for success in academics, athletics and careers.
John was passionate about working with youth and he made the most of every opportunity to coach and lead his players and students. Besides his influence as a teacher and coach, his impact was felt by many through basketball camps, Sunday school classes, Peru community sports, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Peru Parents program. Beyond his basketball impact, Coach Gibbs was an ambassador for PSC and the communities it served, being instrumental in the fight to keep PSC in Peru in the late 1990s. For many years, he served as a National Camp Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He retired from teaching in Missouri in 2013.
A man rooted by his faith in Jesus Christ and his commitment to his family, John was married lifelong to his wife Peggy and a beloved father to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Coach Gibbs passed away July 26, 2019 in Bolivar, MO.
October 14th, 2023 Coach John Gibbs was inducted into the Peru State College Athletic Hall of Fame with its 31st class of inductees. Former players Jeff Smith, Brad Smith, Brett Richards, Ivan Wineglass and Fredd Ward were prior inductees to the PSC Athletic Hall of Fame along with the 1992-93 PSC Men’s Basketball team.
Special thanks to: peggy gibbs peru state ATHLETICS DEPT PERU STATE college FOUNDATION PSC teammates and alumni
