January 18, 2002
Kurt J. Gibson, current principal at Erie High School, was named today (Jan. 18) to be an assistant executive director of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) by the Board of Directors. He will join the IHSA staff July 1.
A teacher, coach and administrator in Illinois schools since 1989, he will become the 26th person to serve on the IHSA administrative staff in the 102-year history of the organization. Gibson will join the staff following the retirement of IHSA Executive Director Dave Fry this summer. His areas of responsibility will be determined when the administrative staff reorganizes later this year.
"We are fortunate to be able to bring to our administrative staff one of the state's outstanding young educators," said IHSA Associate Executive Director Dr. Martin L. Hickman, who succeeds Fry as IHSA Executive Director July l. "Kurt Gibson brings to our staff a fire for teaching, and a deep commitment to serve young people. His presence on our staff will help IHSA continue to provide strong, positive leadership for our member schools and the students who attend them."
Gibson graduated from Belvidere High School and lettered in golf, basketball and baseball. He then graduated cum laude from Bradley University in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in radio/TV and speech. He earned his master's in education from Governor's State University in 1999.
Kurt has coached baseball, basketball and softball in high school and junior high school. His 1996-97 boys basketball team at Manteno High School brought the school its first conference crown in 41 years. At Hinckley-Big Rock, he helped resurrect the high school's baseball program. For many years he has been a volunteer judge in the three-point shooting competition at the Boys State Basketball Tournament. He currently serves as a member of the IHSA Cross Country Advisory Committee.
From 1989-92, Gibson taught English and speech and coached junior high and high school baseball and basketball in the Iroquois West School District. He then taught and coached at Coal City High School for a year. From 1993-95, he taught English and was the varsity baseball coach at Hinckley-Big Rock. The next three years he taught English/Journalism and was head basketball coach at Manteno High School.
Kurt moved into school administration at Manteno in 1998 when he became the school's dean of students and athletic director. In 1999 he became Manteno Middle School principal. Gibson became principal at Erie in 2000.
Kurt and his wife, Jennifer, are parents of four sons, Nicholas, Benjamin, C.J., and Andrew.