Tony Gibson, long an architect of some of college football's best defensive units, is on the cusp of finally running his own program.
Numerous sources with direct knowledge tell FootballScoop that Marshall is planning to make Gibson its next head coach.
An announcement is considered imminent this weekend; the NCAA's December Transfer Portal Window opens Monday and runs through Dec. 28.
Marshall's current team, with Charles Huff at the helm, is playing in the Sun Belt Conference Championship for the first time in program history.
Despite record success this season and previous high-profile wins against Notre Dame and Virginia Tech, among others, under Huff, Marshall and athletics director Christian Spears have not and, per sources, has no intentions of offering Huff a new contract. His present deal expires Jan. 31, 2025.
Huff's led the Herd to four-straight postseason appearances; he's in the running for several head coaching posts but is expected to become the next head coach at Southern Miss.
A 52-year-old native of Van, W. Va., Gibson has coached in both the prep and collegiate ranks in his home state; he's also previously coordinated the defense at West Virginia, as well as his current six-year run in charge of the Wolfpack defense, which is consistently among the top units in the ACC and top-25 defenses nationally.
Additionally, Gibson owns Power Conference coaching experience at Arizona, Michigan and Pittsburgh.
He's in position to be the Head of the Herd after rebuffing repeated interest from Charlotte the past week-plus to become the next leader of the 49ers program.
Former winners selected Gibson the 2023 FootballScoop Linebackers Coach of the Year.