THE GIBSON FILE

PERSONAL

Year in Coaching: Seventh in 2026
Year at K-State: Second in 2026
Hometown: Bismarck, North Dakota
Education: Dickinson State, 2020 (Bachelor's in Physical Education; Minor in Coaching); Dickinson State, 2022 (Master’s in Educational Athletic Leadership)

COACHING EXPERIENCE

2020-21: Dickinson State (Running Backs)
2022-23: Dickinson State (Wide Receivers)
2024: Dickinson State (Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2025-26: K-State (Defensive Assistant)

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE

2015: NAIA Playoffs (Dickinson State)*
2016: NAIA Playoffs (Dickinson State)*
2017: NAIA Playoffs (Dickinson State)*
2018: NAIA Quarterfinals (Dickinson State)*
2019: NAIA Playoffs (Dickinson State)*
2020: NAIA Playoffs (Dickinson State)
2021: NAIA Playoffs (Dickinson State)
2022: NAIA Playoffs (Dickinson State)
2023: NAIA Second Round (Dickinson State)
2024: NAIA Second Round (Dickinson State)
* As a Player

Hayden Gibson is in his second season at K-State in 2026, serving as a defensive assistant.

During his first season in Manhattan in 2025, Gibson helped the Wildcat defense rank third nationally in fumble recoveries (13), seventh in turnovers gained (26), 10th in defensive touchdowns (3) and 29th in pass efficiency defense (119.28).

Gibson came to Manhattan after serving five seasons on the staff at his alma mater, Dickinson State, in Dickinson, North Dakota. While with the Blue Hawks, Gibson served as the running backs coach (2020-21) and wide receivers coach (2022-24), while he held the title of passing game coordinator during his final season.

While on staff at Dickinson State, Gibson helped the Blue Hawks secure five-straight conference championships, and he developed three all-conference running backs and saw his wide receivers combine for five all-conference honors. One of those wide receivers, Noah Sickler, was named the Offensive Player of the Year in 2024.

A native of Bismarck, North Dakota, Gibson was a four-year starting quarterback and three-year team captain for the Blue Hawks, helping Dickinson State win a conference championship each year. He broke the career and single-season school records for passing yards, passing touchdowns and total yards. As a senior, Gibson earned national player of the week honors after throwing for 524 yards in a single game.

Gibson received his bachelor’s degree in physical education and a minor in coaching from Dickinson State in 2020, while he obtained a master’s degree in education with a focus in educational athletic leadership in 2022.