This week on Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we sit down with Ben Gibboney, the defensive coordinator at Carnegie Mellon. In this conversation, Coach Gibboney discusses how he got his start in the coaching profession, his unique journey to where he is today, and being selected as the 2023 Division 3 Assistant Coach of the Year by the AFCA. Coach Gibboney helped the Tartans to a 10-1 record in the 2023 season.  

Follow Coach Gibboney and Carnegie Mellon football on social media here:  

@CoachGibboney & @TartanFB 

Show Notes:  

1:05 Introduction 

1:33 When did you decide to become a football coach?  

3:49 How did you go about finding your first coaching opportunity?  

5:43 What was it like coaching with your father?  

6:58 Transition to Shippensburg  

8:28 Experience taking time away from coaching  

10:25 Trying to find a coaching job while being out of the profession 

12:13 Balancing life as a part-time coach while also having another job 

15:34 Leveraging your jobs to prepare you for future jobs 

17:38 Transition from part-time coach to full time defensive coordinator 

20:03 Replacing a well-known and well-respected long-time coach 

22:24 Working through kinks as a first-time coordinator 

25:21 How did you work to improve your craft as a coach? 

27:39 What advice would you give to your younger self? 

29:20 Working with Bone Marrow foundations at Carnegie Mellon 

31:31 Being named the AFCA’s 2023 D3 Assistant Coach of the Year 

35:25 Conclusion