Scott Devine, the director of Athletics and Recreation at St. Mary's College of Maryland, exclaimed Tuesday morning, "It is my pleasure to announce Crystal Gibson as our next head women's basketball coach."  Gibson becomes the 13th mentor in the 30-year history of the program.

Gibson joins the St. Mary's family after three years at the helm of the Arcadia University women's basketball program in Glenside, Pennsylvania.  While at Arcadia, she also served as the assistant sports information director.  Gibson has also had assistant coaching positions at Frostburg State University and her alma mater, Lebanon Valley College; both are NCAA Division III institutions.

Devine continued, "Crystal was an outstanding player at Lebanon Valley, where she began her coaching career serving as an assistant coach at her alma mater.  Her further experiences as an assistant and head coach at Frostburg State and Arcadia Universities, respectively, have prepared her well to assume our head coaching position.  Given her academic and athletic background, I know Crystal will be an articulate ambassador of the liberal arts and the educational experience that is provided here at St. Mary's."

"Coach Gibson will bring an ability to recruit, teach, mentor, and lead our women's basketball program.  We look forward to her joining our staff and accepting the challenge to compete for CAC championships with high quality student-athletes," added Devine.

From 2006-2008, Gibson served as the primary assistant at Frostburg State, where she was responsible for opponent scouting and player development, including teaching offensive and defensive techniques and fundamentals as well as recruiting.  She served as the assistant coach at Lebanon Valley during the 2005-06 season.  Gibson also spent that year as an assistant coach for the LVC women's track & field team.

Gibson stated, "I am extremely excited about the opportunity to return to the state of Maryland and lead such a talented young group of women.  I look forward to working towards challenging for a CAC championship with hard work, dedication, and recruitment.  Maryland has a perfect blend of exceptionally talented women's basketball players as well as great students, making St. Mary's College of Maryland a perfect fit.  Keeping the best players in the state and educating them on the expansive opportunities SMCM has to offer is a welcoming challenge."

A two-sport athlete at Lebanon Valley, Gibson received her undergraduate degree in biology in 2005 and is currently pursuing a master's in business administration from Frostburg State.  She was a four-year starter at point guard for the Dutchmen, earning second team All-Commonwealth Conference and team MVP recognition as a junior (2003-04).  Gibson also graduated Lebanon Valley as the program's all-time assists leader with 528.

She was also a four-year letter winner on the outdoor track & field team who picked up All-America honors in the high jump in 2002 with her fifth-place finish at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.  Other accolades included LVC Outstanding Women's Athlete Award (2004-05) as well as holding the school record in the high jump at 1.72m.