Former High Point University Athletic Director and coach Dr. Marion "Woody" Gibson has been elected to the NAIA Hall of Fame, it was announced last week. Gibson served as head coach of men's soccer and golf, was Sports Information Director and Athletic Director, and is currently an associate professor in the Phillips School of Business.

"To be honored by the NAIA in this manner is hard to describe – it's the highest honor in NAIA coaching," said Gibson. "I met so many wonderful coaches and great people who remain close friends today during my time coaching in the NAIA and it was a wonderful experience."

Gibson earned the NAIA Hall of Fame honor primarily for his time as High Point University men's soccer coach from 1978-97. Prior to that he was HPU assistant coach from 1975-77. Gibson had over 20 years of involvement on a variety of committees with the NAIA Coaches Association, which culminated in his service as President in 1993-94.

As a head coach, Gibson affected generations of players who recognized him as a man of great integrity, loyalty and compassion. He never lost sight of the fact, that first and foremost they were student-athletes. He knew and loved the game, taught it well and possessed a great gift for motivating players and integrating important life lessons in the field of play.

HPU won North State Conference/CVAC regular season men's soccer championships in 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1987 and 1992. When the conference began holding a postseason tournament in 1989, HPU won the first championship and was tournament runner-up in 1991 and 1992.

In addition to men's soccer coach, Gibson served as head men's golf coach from 1974-92 and founded the HPU women's soccer team and was head coach from 1992-94. He was HPU's Sports Information Director from 1975-91 and was Athletic Director from 1998-2008. During all of those years, Gibson taught classes at HPU and is currently associate professor in the Phillips School of Business.

"There were so many great athletic moments over all of those years, but I think the most difficult and rewarding accomplishment was laying the foundation for a good NCAA Division I program," said Gibson. He became HPU's Athletic Director in the spring of 1998 as the University was transitioning from NCAA Div. II to Div. I and joining the Big South Conference.

Gibson earned his bachelor's degree in history with a minor in English from HPU in 1975 and earned his master's degree in Physical Education in 1980. Gibson earned his doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Nova Southeastern University in 1995.

Gibson becomes the seventh former HPU coach or administrator elected to the NAIA Hall of Fame. He joins former HPU coaches Jerry Steele (men's basketball), Kitty Steele (field hockey, tennis), Chuck Hartman (baseball) and Virgil Yow (men's basketball) as well as former student-athletes Eugene Littles (men's basketball) and Roger Watson (men's golf).

Gibson will be inducted to the NAIA Hall of Fame during the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship in Orange Beach, Ala., on Nov. 27, 2011.