Kaija Gibson, the former standout player from the University of Washington, has been named as the Florida Vibe head coach for its inaugural season beginning in Summer 2022.
Currently, Gibson has brought her talents to the Sunshine State as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Central Florida.
“I’m exceptionally grateful for the opportunity to lead this group of women,” said Coach Gibson. “This summer will be filled with growth, learning and passion for the game and for each other. I’m so excited to be part of that with such talented women.”
Gibson played the entirety of her collegiate career at Washington. During that time, she was a true utility player and a self-described, “defensive replacement, a pinch hitter, a starter, an infielder, and an outfielder.”
“Every single year, I learned more and more about the different parts of the game,” she said, “knowing that soaking up every piece of knowledge our coaches had for me would come in handy.”
Academically, she received both her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership from UW. Gibson also received several honors during her time as a Husky. These included: PAC-12 Academic Honor Roll, PAC-12 All-Academic First Team and NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete.
In her current role at UCF, Gibson is responsible for the outfield and the leadership development for the program under Head Coach Cindy Ball-Malone. Gibson’s experience as a utility player has also led to her assisting with both infield and hitting. She is passionate about empowering the players she works with to reach their full potential.
“Leadership is extremely important to me because it exists everywhere,” Coach Gibson stated. “I’m excited to see how this professional platform allows this team to lead others in the community and the world around them.”
“Helping these athletes become better versions of themselves is something I look forward to this summer. I can’t wait to positively impact these women as much as they impact me! Go Vibe!”
