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Read the story of Gil Gibbs by selecting the drop down menu on the left.
Introduction:
Gil Gibbs was a man that never played the game of lacrosse, who took over a fledgling lacrosse program at Montclair (NJ) High School and went 4-7 against what was regarded as a weak New Jersey lacrosse schedule. Eleven years later, in 1977, he was honored by the USILA with its Man of the Year Award for having established the first nationally recognized public high school lacrosse powerhouse, located outside of Maryland or Long Island. 37 years ago, he became the last high school coach to win this prestigious honor from the USILA. Tragically, after completing his 13th season, he died of cancer in 1978, at the age of 39.
• Biography
• Born and raised in Montclair, NJ. Died at age 39 in 1978
• Graduate of Montclair High School, 1957
• Graduate of Springfield (MA) College, 1961
Unique Distinctions:
• In 1977, Gibbs received the “Howdy Myers Man of the Year” award from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, becoming one of only three high school coaches to have ever received this prestigious honor since its inception in 1944.*He is the last high school coach to receive this honor from the USILA.
• Established the 1st nationally recognized public high school lacrosse powerhouse, located outside Maryland or Long Island.
Inducted
US Lacrosse – New Jersey Chapter, Hall of Fame, 1997(Charter Class)
New Jersey Scholastic Coaches, Hall of Fame, 2010
NJSIAA/Bollinger, Hall of Fame, 2014
Springfield College Hall of Fame, 2015
From 1970-75, thirteen Montclair players received scholarships/financial aid to play at Division 1 powers, Maryland, Johns Hopkins, Navy and Rutgers. Gibbs players competed in 42 NCAA Division 1 Final Four games with six winning NCAA Championships.
More of his former players (five) were selected to try out for the 1978 US National Team than any other high school in the United States -- astounding for a public high school.
In all, Gibbs’ former players were named to collegiate All American teams 17 times, 16 between 1976 and 1979 (4 years). Gibbs had five Division 1 All Americans in 1979.
Under Gibbs, Montclair won 11 state championships – 6 New Jersey Coaches, (71, 72, 75, 76, 77 & 78) – 4 NJSIAA, (74, 75, 77 & 78) and was co-champions, in 1969.
Gibbs’ overall record was 177-35, which included a start up period. His record in his last 8 years was 132-7.
Introduction:
Gil Gibbs was a man that never played the game of lacrosse, who took over a fledgling lacrosse program at Montclair (NJ) High School and went 4-7 against what ...was regarded as a weak New Jersey lacrosse schedule. Eleven years later, in 1977, he was honored by the USILA with its Man of the Year Award for having established the first nationally recognized public high school lacrosse powerhouse, located outside of Maryland or Long Island. 37 years ago, he became the last high school coach to win this prestigious honor from the USILA. Tragically, after completing his 13th season, he died of cancer in 1978, at the age of 39.
• Biography
• Born and raised in Montclair, NJ. Died at age 39 in 1978
• Graduate of Montclair High School, 1957
• Graduate of Springfield (MA) College, 1961
Unique Distinctions:
• In 1977, Gibbs received the “Howdy Myers Man of the Year” award from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, becoming one of only three high school coaches to have ever received this prestigious honor since its inception in 1944.*He is the last high school coach to receive this honor from the USILA.
• Established the 1st nationally recognized public high school lacrosse powerhouse, located outside Maryland or Long Island.
Inducted
US Lacrosse – New Jersey Chapter, Hall of Fame, 1997(Charter Class)
New Jersey Scholastic Coaches, Hall of Fame, 2010
NJSIAA/Bollinger, Hall of Fame, 2014
Springfield College Hall of Fame, 2015
From 1970-75, thirteen Montclair players received scholarships/financial aid to play at Division 1 powers, Maryland, Johns Hopkins, Navy and Rutgers. Gibbs players competed in 42 NCAA Division 1 Final Four games with six winning NCAA Championships.
More of his former players (five) were selected to try out for the 1978 US National Team than any other high school in the United States -- astounding for a public high school.
In all, Gibbs’ former players were named to collegiate All American teams 17 times, 16 between 1976 and 1979 (4 years). Gibbs had five Division 1 All Americans in 1979.
Under Gibbs, Montclair won 11 state championships – 6 New Jersey Coaches, (71, 72, 75, 76, 77 & 78) – 4 NJSIAA, (74, 75, 77 & 78) and was co-champions, in 1969.
Gibbs’ overall record was 177-35, which included a start up period. His record in his last 8 years was 132-7.
Gibbs coached three undefeated teams in seven years. A brief story of each team and how it contributed to Montclair becoming the first nationally recognized public high school lacrosse powerhouse, located outside of Maryland or Long Island, follows:
1971
Undefeated Mounties win State Title
By Rod Grodt
Montclair High lacrosse fans could have left last Saturday's state championship game against Lawrenceville Prep after the first 30 seconds assured of victory.
It took the mounties just that long to flex their muscles and victory was a foregone conclusion. It was just a matter of how many goals they were going to score.
As things turned out, the Mounties cruised to a 12-4 triumph and the state crown. The victory was the fifteenth for Coach Gil Gibbs' squad which Saturday defeated Pingry, 11-1 to become the first scholastic lacrosse team in state history to finish regular-season play undefeated.
The team, probably the finest in the history of scholastic lacrosse in New Jersey, will be honored by the MHS Lacrosse Booster Club at an awards dinner Tuesday night at 7PM.
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The 1971 Team began the dominance of New Jersey which continued until Mr. Gibbs' passing following the 1978 season. For the season, Montclair out-scored it's opponents, 164-32.
From this team, Bill McCutcheon and Brooks Sleeper became the first players from the state of New Jersey
to gain playing time for major college teams, Johns Hopkins and Maryland, respectively.
1972
Following his first unbeaten season in 1971, Gibbs realized that in order to gain national respect and assist his players in getting into college, they must compete against the best in the country. As a result, a scrimage was scheduled with the 1971 Long Island Champs, East Meadow.
March 27th 1972
Montclair 5 - East Meadow 3
(Scrimmage)
On a dreary day on Long Island, the defending New Jersey state championship team proved that it belonged on the same field with the defending Long Island Champs.
East Meadow went on to defend its championship and finished 18-1. They defeated Brentwood in overtime in the Long Island final, in what was called the greatest game in Long Island history.
East Meadow’s leading scorer was John Danowski, who earned All American honors at Rutgers University and is better known as the current Head Lacrosse Coach at Duke University.
Brentwood’s leading scorer was Frank Urso who went on to become arguably the greatest player to ever play the game, earning 1st team All American four times at Maryland.
Montclair successfully defended the New Jersey State Championship and extended its two year unbeaten streak to 30 games.
This team featured seven player's who played Division 1 lacrosse and 4 college All Americans.
Last but not least was Gary Mercadante, who Gibbs' said, "was the best player he ever coached."
1977
Mountie Lacrosse "Apple Basket" Filled to Brim
By Rod Grodt
For each game, Montclair Lacrosse Coach Gil Gibbs inspires his Mounties...not only with strategy but with original verse.
The title of this Saturdays poem was, "The Apple Tree," and the special lacrosse apple tree contained six apples -- Gilman, the Fitch League Championship, an unbeaten regular season, beating New York's best (Suffern and Nyack) and two state championships.
After the Mounties fought off a strong Columbia rally for a 9-7 victory for the NJSIAA Championship and a perfect 20-0 season, Gibbs stated, "Montclair goes home with a basket containing every apple scholastic lacrosse can give. "This has to go down as one of the great experiences, accomplishments and achievements. The kids have to feel good and proud and the town which backs us immensely year after year must also feel proud.
Gilman
Finally, a real game--not a scrimmage against a nationally recognized program.
Gibbs' quotes after Montclair's landmark 8-4 win over Gilman
"The game meant a great deal to me. I've been waiting for twelve years. The game meant a good deal to all New Jersey graduates playing college lacrosse and closed the door on the non-sense that Baltimore is the only area for good high school lacrosse."
"Playing in Palmer Stadium was a marvelous experience and for that I would like to thank Princeton Athletic Director Royce Flippin and lacrosse Coach Mike Hanna."
*For more information on the Gilman game go to the story of Gil Gibbs
Montclair Lacrosse: The Gibbs Era is dedicated to telling the story of the Montclair (N.J.) High School lacrosse team _ the first nationally-known public high school lacrosse team located outside Maryland and Long Island _ during Gil Gibbs’ legendary tenure as head coach.
In the Gibbs’ years, 1966-78, Montclair produced more college players who had All-American careers at NCAA Division I programs than any other school in New Jersey, while winning a record 11 state championships, including three dual titles, in a 10-year period. Those accomplishments alone propelled the Montclair native to an elite status among high school lacrosse coaches of his era.
Before his death in 1978 at age 39 after a two-year battle with cancer, Gibbs gained national recognition for being a leading force in helping to grow the sport of lacrosse in New Jersey. He is a charter member of the New Jersey Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame and is a qualified candidate for enshrinement in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, based on two criteria: He was the recipient of a major USILA award and has the necessary career winning percentage.
The goal of Montclair Lacrosse: The Gibbs Era is to present the case for having Gil Gibbs nominated and elected to the National Lacrosse and NJSIAA Hall's of Fame.
