St. Mary’s College of Maryland is preparing to say goodbye to Crystal Gibson, who will leave her role as Director of Athletics & Recreation to become Executive Director of Athletics at Widener University.
Gibson has spent a combined 12 years at St. Mary’s College, first as head women’s basketball coach and senior woman administrator, and most recently as the college’s top athletics official since June 2020. Her departure marks the end of a period that saw the Seahawks achieve consistent success across multiple sports.
Under Gibson’s leadership, St. Mary’s College won three consecutive United East Conference Presidents’ Cups from 2022-23 through 2024-25. The 2025-26 season stood out as particularly strong, with the department capturing 13 conference championships. All eligible programs advanced to postseason play in back-to-back years.
Gibson also oversaw the addition of the college’s first full-time strength and conditioning coach, expanding support for student-athletes. She guided the department through St. Mary’s College’s transition into the United East Conference and worked to align athletics with broader institutional goals.
“Together, we celebrated competitive success, academic achievement, resilience, and the true spirit of Division III athletics,” Gibson said in a statement. “I leave this role incredibly proud of what we built together and excited for the future of Seahawks athletics.”
Before becoming director, Gibson served six years as head women’s basketball coach from 2011 to 2017. During that time, the Seahawks made five consecutive playoff appearances in the Capital Athletic Conference and produced multiple all-conference honorees. She also chaired the conference’s women’s basketball committee and led the department’s first Title IX review as senior woman administrator.
Beyond her work at St. Mary’s College, Gibson has held several prominent roles in national college athletics governance. She served on the NCAA Board of Governors Committee to Promote Cultural Diversity and Equity from 2021 to 2024 and currently serves as vice chair of the NCAA Division III Management Council. She is also on track to become president of the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators in 2027-28.
Her move to Widener University comes as she takes on a broader leadership role at the Division III level. Widener, located in Chester, Pennsylvania, competes in the Middle Atlantic Conference.
Gibson’s departure leaves St. Mary’s College searching for its next athletics director at a time when the Seahawks program has reached a high level of competitive consistency within its conference.
