Gibson named new defensive coordinator
Holmes Community College Head Football Coach Raymond Gross announced recently that Starkville native Le'Marcus Gibson has been named the new defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs.
Gibson joined the Bulldog football coaching staff in 2019 as associate head coach/defensive backs coach. Prior to Holmes, he served as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma Panhandle State University for one season and defensive back/strength and conditioning coach for two seasons there as well. He coached at Nicholls State University and was a graduate assistant at Grambling State University.
He played safety and outside linebacker at the University of Hawaii in 2007 before transferring to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for his 2008 season. He played 2010, 2011 and 2012 for University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
"I am extremely honored and blessed to have Coach Gross and Holmes Community College administration believe enough in my ability to lead to extend this opportunity to me," Gibson said. "I'm more than thankful that I am able to continue being a part of this great program and institution. It was always a dream of mine as a player to run my own defense after playing in multiple defensive schemes in my career."
"Because there is no place like Holmes, I am fortunate enough to be back home in my home state and I am a product of this league I'm coaching in. It couldn't be a better fit!"
Coach Gross said the promotion was an easy choice.
"The one thing that stood out about Coach Gibson is his desire to be here," Gross said. "He had some opportunities. He's a highly motivated young man who is dedicated to the Holmes Community College football program. He showed that by going out and recruiting when he didn't know what was going on during the transition. He worked like he wanted to be here and that should be rewarded."
Gross said Gibson is detail-oriented, big into film study and understands Holmes' defensive philosophy.
"He expects nothing but the best and that's one of the things that attracted me to him," Gross said. "I'm the same way as a coach. I'm going to push my guys, and he's going to push his guys to get the maximum effort out of them. That's what we have to do to win. We have to play above the level of talent that we have, and I think he'll do a good job motivating the guys on defense."
"I believe putting players in position to be successful on/off the field and having the ability to instill discipline while cultivating a personal relationship with each student athlete are attributes that I would consider strengths as a coach," Gibson said. "We will run an attacking, odd front defense not allowing an offense to dictate the aggressiveness of the defense game in and game out."
Gibson graduated from Harrison Central High School in 2007. He holds a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and a master's degree in sports administration from Grambling State University.
The football coaching staff is still looking to hire an offensive assistant coach with the primary responsibility of working with the running backs. The position should be opening soon.
"I'm taking my time on that position simply because it's a very important position on the offensive side of the ball," Gross said. "I want to find someone with experience, but if I can't I want to make sure it's the right fit.
"I think we've put together a pretty good staff," he said. "We are diversified in its makeup and experience level and age. That's a good thing. We have some young guys who want to get out there and work and get better as a coach. We have some older guys including myself that have been around for a little bit. We have guys from different backgrounds, and that'll make us a better coaching staff."