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Gibbons paced the Lakers to arguably their best season in program
history in the 2006-07 season. Tonight, he will be honored for the
tremendous achievement.Gibbons will be honored by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club with the Whack Hyder State of Georgia Men’s College Coach of the Year as a part of the Tip-Off Club’s annual Naismith Awards Banquet at the Georgia World Congress Center. This honor covers all levels of college basketball in Georgia, from Division I to the NAIA and junior college levels. This marks the second time that a Clayton State men’s basketball has received such an honor. In 1994, current Clayton State Athletic Director Mason Barfield was honored as the Georgia Men’s NAIA Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club. Gibbons paced Clayton State to a 24-8 mark this season, the best season for the program at the NCAA Division II level. That included advancing to the Peach Belt Conference championship game for the first time in program history, and the school’s first ever NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance. The 24 victories were tied with Augusta State for the most victories by a men’s program in Georgia at any level this season. In addition, the Lakers were ranked in the Division II Top 25 for the entire season for the first time in program history. Clayton State was ranked eighth in the preseason Division II Top 25 poll, and spent eight weeks at No. 2 in the nation in Division II. The Lakers won 17 straight games to start the season for a school record and ranked sixth in the nation in scoring defense. The Whack Hyder State of Georgia Men’s College Coach of the Year is named in honor and memory of the late John “Whack” Hyder, who was head coach at Georgia Tech from 1951-1973. Hyder compiled a 292-271 record at the helm the Yellow Jackets which included the program’s first NCAA National Tournament appearance in 1960 and an unprecedented nine victories over Kentucky and legendary coach Adolph Rupp. |
