A former student-athlete and graduate from CSI, Tibbs became the seventh coach in the school's history in July of 2017. He represented a healthy mix of college playing and coaching experience, along with his exemplary work with the Staten Island community as an activist and ambassador to the sport.
A St. Peter's High School basketball standout, Tibbs caught on late in his career at the college, playing for the Dolphins from 2010-12. He led the team to its farthest NCAA Tournament run in 2011-12, which included a pair of victories at the Sports & Recreation Center. Tibbs had three NCAA coaching stops from there before landing at CSI.
Tibbs started his collegiate career as a player at NCAA Division I Monmouth University for a single season. Then, he transferred to CSI three years later, with two years of basketball eligibility remaining. Tibbs wrapped up his Senior season as a division III all-american and CUNYAC all-star. He posted 15.8 points per contest to go with 183 assists, then the second-highest mark in CSI single season history. His 40 points against Rhode Island College in the NCAA's round of 32 remains a CSI postseason record. While playing at the college, Tibbs was also the freshman boy's coach at Curtis High School.
Tibbs did not waste time entering the college coaching circuit upon graduation. In August of 2013, he became the Director of Basketball Operations at NCAA Division I New Jersey Institute of Technology. Working with coach and mentor Jim Engles, he served as a liaison for the basketball program with all departments on campus, as well as coordinate budgets and special events for the program. That position sat side-by-side with Tibbs' work with the Staten Island Musketeers' 17U AAU program. This enforced Tibbs' penchant for working with area youth, furthering not only their basketball interests, but academics and personal growth as well.
In July of 2014, Tibbs found his way back into the City University of New York Athletic Conference, working with CSI-rival Baruch College in Manhattan as an assistant coach. There, Tibbs was responsible for a heavy dose of the Bearcats' recruiting efforts, while developing game, practice plans, and a year-round skill development program for all BC student-athletes. Tibbs left the Bearcats during the middle of the 2016-17 season. He then accepted an interim role as Head Coach at the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Taking over the team in late January, Tibbs inherited a 3-14 side and led the team to a 4-4 record in its final eight games.
Tibbs intends to help build on the rich tradition the college has been known for, making it a logical landing spot for the area's best talent. He hopes to reach outside the local neighborhoods to boost the squad's roster. He expects his teams to compete for national prominence and emphasizes the importance of community engagement. His players don't just learn basketball, they learn life skills.
