On Thursday, the Howard Payne University athletic department announced the hiring of Brandon McGibeny as head men’s soccer coach.

Brandon McGibeny comes to Howard Payne after four seasons as the women’s soccer coach at Cisco College in Cisco, Texas. There, Coach McGibeny built the Wrangler women’s team into a nationally ranked program.

“Coach McGibeny embodies great characteristics to be a perfect fit as we welcome him back to HPU,” said Hunter Sims director of athletics. “He and his family are Christ-centered and will lead our men’s soccer program in that manner. He has a great track record to recruit, form relationships, and to compete and build a competitive program.”

In 2022, Coach McGibeny led the Wranglers to six shutout victories and ended the season ranked #18 overall nationally in the United Soccer Coaches poll.

“I am so ecstatic to be able to come back to Howard Payne and lead at a place that has given so much to my life and a place I consider home,” said Brandon McGibeny. “I believe Howard Payne can have a huge impact on young men because that is what it did for me, both as a student and as a coach. I am excited, I am humbled, and I am ready to lift Howard Payne to new heights.”

McGibeny led a turnaround of a Cisco program from in 2019 a 0.69 goals scored per game and 4.13 goals against per game to 2.21 goals scored per game and 2.0 goals scored against per game in 2022.

Over his four seasons at Cisco, he has coached 16 All-Conference selections, and two Region V All-Tournament Team selections. In 2021, his team received the United Soccer Coaches Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award.

McGibeny spent two years as the assistant coach/goalkeeper coach for the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets where he trained two All-Conference Goalkeepers.  He would also coach Delany Castor, who would go on to be named the American Southwest Conference Goalkeeper of the Year.

Coach McGibeny holds a United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma, a United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeper Level 2 Diploma, and is currently working on the United States Soccer Federation C License.

McGibeny is a 2017 graduate of Howard Payne University, where he lettered in both soccer (as a goalkeeper and forward) and tennis. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Master of Education in Sport and Wellness Leadership in 2020.

Originally from Belton, Texas, McGibeny is married to Erin who is also an HPU graduate and current HPU Coordinator of University Events. They are expecting their first child in July 2022.