Darryl Gibson is a Canadian former professional box lacrosse defenseman and coach. He played 140 regular-season games in the National Lacrosse League from 2000 to 2012, won two Champions Cups with the Toronto Rock and five Mann Cups, and later coached at professional and major-series levels.
Background
Darryl Gibson was born on July 28, 1976, in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in the Greater Toronto Area. He played hockey and lacrosse from a young age, experiences that shaped his later understanding of both the physical demands of box lacrosse and the movement of the indoor game.
Gibson developed through Ontario's competitive lacrosse system and later attended Mercyhurst. His playing career connected him with professional franchises in Canada and the United States, while his later coaching work remained centered on player development and box-lacrosse strategy.
Education
Gibson attended Mercyhurst, a private university in Erie, Pennsylvania, whose athletics program competes in the NCAA and whose lacrosse tradition has included men's and women's intercollegiate teams. His documented collegiate association preceded a professional career in the National Lacrosse League and senior-level lacrosse in Ontario.
Career
Gibson began his National Lacrosse League career with the Albany Attack in 2000. He subsequently played for the Toronto Rock, San Jose Stealth, Arizona Sting, Minnesota Swarm, Chicago Shamrox and Buffalo Bandits, primarily as a defenseman. Across 140 regular-season games, he recorded 28 goals, 73 assists and 582 loose balls.
With the Toronto Rock, Gibson won the NLL Champions Cup in 2002 and 2003. He was also selected as an NLL All-Star in 2006 while playing for the Minnesota Swarm. In senior lacrosse, he won Mann Cups with the Brooklin Redmen in 2000 and the Peterborough Lakers in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2012.
After his playing career, Gibson moved into coaching. He was head coach of the Newmarket Redbirds from 2007 to 2012, served as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Swarm in 2014 and 2015, and worked as defensive coach of the Durham Turfdogs in 2016. He was offensive coach of the Cobourg Kodiaks in 2018 and then became offensive coordinator of the New England Black Wolves.
Gibson later joined the FireWolves organization as an assistant coach. He served with the Albany FireWolves after the franchise's relocation from New England to Albany and was identified as an assistant coach during the team's 2024 National Lacrosse League championship-series season. His coaching has emphasized the transition from junior and amateur lacrosse to the faster, more physical demands of professional box lacrosse.
Achievements
Gibson won the National Lacrosse League Champions Cup with the Toronto Rock in 2002 and 2003.
Gibson was selected as an NLL All-Star in 2006 while playing defense for the Minnesota Swarm.
Gibson won five Mann Cups in senior lacrosse: one with the Brooklin Redmen in 2000 and four with the Peterborough Lakers in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2012.
Gibson completed a 140-game National Lacrosse League playing career, recording 28 goals, 73 assists and 582 loose balls.
Views
Gibson has described box lacrosse as a sport built on spacing, timing, physical contact and disciplined movement. In discussing the development of American players, he emphasized the value of learning the indoor game because its tighter spaces and greater physicality require rapid decisions and strong positional awareness.
Personality
Physical Characteristics:
Gibson was listed at approximately 6 feet 1 inch and 205 pounds during his professional playing career.
Interests
Sneakers, especially Air Jordan shoes.
Sport & Clubs
Hockey and lacrosse.
Connections
Gibson's son, Tyson Gibson, is a professional lacrosse player who played collegiately at Robert Morris University and entered the National Lacrosse League.
Son:
Tyson Gibson
Professional lacrosse player who attended Robert Morris University and played in the National Lacrosse League.
References
2012 Buffalo Bandits Media Guide
Documents Gibson's birth information, defensive position, physical measurements, Buffalo playing career and 2011 season statistics.
Black Wolves Add Gibson to Coaching Staff
Documents Gibson's appointment as New England Black Wolves offensive coordinator and his previous coaching work with the Cobourg Kodiaks, Minnesota Swarm, Newmarket Redbirds and Durham Turfdogs.
2018
Coaching Staff
Identifies Gibson as an assistant coach with the FireWolves organization.
