Josh Gibbs is entering his 16th season (2021) at the helm of the Texas Wesleyan women’s soccer program. He also serves the department as Director of Athletic Advancement.
In his first season as head coach (2006), he led the Lady Rams to a second consecutive Red River Athletic Conference Championship. During his second and third seasons Gibbs added two RRAC Coach of the Year awards and another conference championship to his belt. Just two seasons later (2010) he became the winningest coach in the history of the program, a record that now stands at 171.
In 15 seasons he holds a program best overall record of 171-84-12(.671), which is good for 23rd among active NAIA coaches. He has coached 63 All-Conference players, eight conference Players of the Year, 15 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, and six All-Americans.
Last season (2020), a season in which no games were played until February due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gibbs guided his athletes to a 6-4 record. Savanna Barron and Julia Villalobos were both named 2nd-team All-SAC. Barron netted 10 goals and three assists while Villalobos continued the tradition of excellence in goaltending at Texas Wesleyan with a 2.30 GAA and a pair of shutouts. Eight Lady Rams were named Academic All-SAC, while Melissa Gonzalez and Catherine Lopez were named SAC Scholar-Athletes and the team received SAC Scholar-Team recognition with a 3.09 GPA.
When he took the head coaching job at Texas Wesleyan, Gibbs renewed a long relationship with the school. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Wesleyan in 2003 after playing for three seasons. During his playing career, the goalkeeper was a 2nd-team All-RRAC selection in 2002. He transferred to Texas Wesleyan after one season at Huron University where he was an Honorable Mention NAIA All-American selection.
His coaching career also began at Texas Wesleyan. Gibbs served as an assistant coach for one season, prior to playing in his senior year.
Gibbs joined the Wesleyan staff as both head men and head women's soccer coach. He continued to coach the men's team through the 2009 season (posting an overall record of 34-31-6) when he began to focus solely on the women's team. Prior to Wesleyan, he served as an assistant coach for the Baylor University women’s soccer program. He also worked toward his Masters degree while at Baylor.
Gibbs resides in Arlington with his wife Kimbra and their two daughters, Ellie and Zoe and son Logan.
Josh Gibbs at Texas Wesleyan
2020 - 6-4 (6-3 SAC)
In a season in which no games were played until February due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gibbs guided his athletes to a 6-4 record. Savanna Barron and Julia Villalobos were both named 2nd-team All-SAC. Barron netted 10 goals and three assists while Villalobos continued the tradition of excellence in goaltending at Texas Wesleyan with a 2.30 GAA and a pair of shutouts. Eight Lady Rams were named Academic All-SAC, while Melissa Gonzalez and Catherine Lopez were named SAC Scholar-Athletes and the team received SAC Scholar-Team recognition with a 3.09 GPA.
2019 - 13-6 (7-2 SAC)
After an 0-2 start, the Lady Rams recorded nine wins in their next ten games and capped off a seven-game winning streak with a 2-1 overtime victory at Oklahoma City. Junior Tameir Grosvenor scored both goals in that win to earn one of her three SAC Player of the Week awards during the season. Grosvenor rewrote the TXWES record book in her third collegiate campaign. She set a new school record with 30 goals in the season pushing her career total to 76 and surpassing Jessica Carrion's mark of 74 that had stood for 16 years. Grosvenor earned a second NAIA All-America honor as an honorable mention selection. The team advanced to the SAC Semifinals where they were defeated 1-0 by Wayland Baptist. Grosvenor was named 1st-team All-Conference while Lindsey Beckrich and Christ Zwart were 2nd-team selections. Zwart earned a pair of Defensive SAC Player of the Week awards. Fully 16 Lady Rams were named Academic All-SAC and eight were named SAC Scholar-Athlete.
2018 - 13-4-1 (7-1-1 SAC)
SAC Regular Season Champions
SAC Coach of the Year
Gibbs was named SAC Coach of the Year after leading the Lady Rams to the regular season conference championship. The team secured the title by upsetting 7th ranked John Brown 1-0, marking Gibbs 150th career victory. The team ended the season ranked 19th nationally. Tameir Grosvenor was named SAC Player of the Year and Honorable Mention NAIA All-American. Grosvenor and SAC Defensive Player of the Year Amber Leachman headlined a group of five all-conference selections. Goalkeeper Lauren Bond was also a 1st-team selection while Taylor Ross and Cheyanne Moore were 2nd-team picks. Catherine Smith and Reilly Stone both earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition.
2017 - 14-4 (8-2 SAC)
The team started a five game win-streak by taking a 2-1 nail-biter from Oklahoma City and won 7 of 8 heading into the conference tournament. The team topped MACU 5-1 in the Quarterfinal before dropping the Semifinal to eventual SAC Champion USAO. The Lady Rams boasted four all-conference selections including Co-Offensive Player of the Year Samantha Moore. Six were named academic all-conference and 17 were named to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll.
2016 - 11-6-1 (7-1-1 SAC)
The team began the season by tying the program record with four consecutive losses, then recovered by rattling off a school record 8 consecutive wins and 10 games without a loss to move to 9-4-1. At 7-1-1 in conference play, they finished just a game shy of the SAC Regular Season Championship and reached the SAC semifinals before being ousted 1-0 in a rain-soaked contest against Science & Arts. The team featured five all-conference selections including Co-Defensive Player of the Year Theresa Garsztecki and Co-Newcomer of the Year Drea Molina. Nine Lady Rams were named Academic All-Conference, 13 were named to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, and the team was named an NAIA Scholar-Team.
2015 - 9-7-1 (4-4-1 SAC)
The team reached the SAC quarterfinals before being defeated by John Brown. Theresa Garstecki was named 1st-team All-SAC. The team was named an NAIA Scholar-Team while 11 individuals were named to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll.
2014 - 11-5-1 (6-2-1 SAC)
The Lady Rams reached the SAC semifinals for the second straight year while recording the program's seventh consecutive season with at least 10 wins. The team featured three All-SAC selections and three NAIA Scholar Athletes.
2013 - 12-5-2 (5-4-1 SAC)
The Lady Rams went 12-5-2 overall and 5-4-1 in their first season in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The team was ranked as high as 22nd nationally and their marks of 16 goals against, a 0.81 goals against average, and 9 shutout all rank second in program history. The team featured four All-SAC performers and three NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
2012 - 12-6-2 (7-2-1 RRAC)
Gibbs led the Lady Rams to a successful season in which the program posted a 12-6-2 record and went 7-2-1 in conference play for a third place finish in the RRAC. The team produced four All-Conference selections and advanced to the championship match in the RRAC Tournament. Paige Wheaton was named NAIA All-American.
2011 - 15-3-1 (7-2 RRAC)
Gibbs led the Lady Rams to a school record 15 wins and a third place finish in the RRAC standings at 7-2. Jessica Watton was named NAIA All-American and RRAC Offensive Player of the Year.
2010 - 13-6 (6-3 RRAC)
Gibbs led the Lady Rams to an overall record of 13-6, while the team reached the RRAC semifinals. The 2010 team featured four All-Conference selections, including Jessica Wattion who led the conference with 43 points, and three scholar athletes. Along the way, they also set a school record for goals against average at 1.05.
2009 - 14-6 (6-2 RRAC)
Gibbs led the Lady Rams to the best start in program history at 5-0. The team was ranked as high as 21st nationally and, at 14-6 overall, they matched the program’s highest win total. The team also set school records for goals in a season (80) and points in a season (206).
2008 - 11-7 (6-1)
RRAC Champions
NAIA National Tournament Qualifier
Gibbs led the program to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time. His Lady Rams won both the RRAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships, and he was named RRAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season. The team advanced to the National Tournament where they were defeated 2-0 by seventh seeded Cal. Baptist. The Lady Rams were led by seven All-Conference players, including six first-team selections. Alejandra Barrera was named RRAC Co-Player of the Year, while goalkeeper Brittany O’Brian was named RRAC Defensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-American.
2007 - 8-7-3 (5-1-1 RRAC)
RRAC Coach of the Year
In his second season, Gibbs led the Rams through the loss of several key players to a 5-1-1 conference record which was good for the second seed in the RRAC tournament. That run produced six all-conference selections, and Gibbs was rewarded with the RRAC Coach of the Year award. Allie Heafner was named RRAC Defensive Player of the Year.
2006 - 9-8 (5-1 RRAC)
RRAC Champions
RRAC Coach of the Year
Gibbs commented that coaching at his alma matter and taking over a defending conference champion was a dream situation. He made the most of that situation, leading the Lady Rams through the early troubles of a coaching transition and all the way to a second consecutive RRAC title. The team started just 3-7 before catching fire. Down the stretch, Gibbs’ Lady Rams won a school record six straight games, shutting out their opponents in all six contests. That run produced the program’s second conference championship, six All-Conference selections, three All-Region players, and one All-American in Heather Fowler.
