Santaluces surprises legendary coach Willie Gibson with court-naming ceremony

Former Santaluces legendary coach Willie Gibson thought he was attending a Sunday preseason scrimmage as the Chiefs gear up for their season opener on Nov. 29th.

Surprise!

When Santaluces opens its 40th season, it will compete in a gym now named “Coach Willie Gibson Court’’ following an hour-long dedication ceremony Sunday at the Lantana school.

A flock of 55 of Gibson’s former players and assistants on his staff attended the court dedication ceremony. They all witnessed Gibson’s name engraved in black on both sides of the hardwood he ruled for 27 seasons.

“Oh no, I really am speechless,’’ Gibson said. “This is a surprise. I’m gonna try and keep my composure. When I walked in and saw all the former players, you guys are like family. Everytime I see one of you, we sit down and just talk about basketball and there are so many generations that came through.’’

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Wearing a black “Santaluces Basketball’’ T-shirt, Gibson arrived one hour late to his surprise party because as he was leaving the house, the Buffalo Bills’ game extended to overtime. Gibson is an ardent Miami Dolphins’ fan and watched the conclusion because it had Dolphins’ ramifications.

Gibson never knew he was holding up a celebration and he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face upon his arrival as he received a standing ovation.

“This is the top of it all,’’ Gibson told the crowd. “This is one important moment for me of all the awards. I’ve had a lot over the years – including the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame. This one is important.’’

Gibson, 72, opened Santaluces as its basketball coach in 1982 and retired in 2009. In his final season, Santaluces advanced to the state final four.

“I spent a lot of time here and a lot of sweat and tears in this gym,’’ said Gibson, who finished with a 596-404 career coaching record.

His coaching tree is significant, including Matthew and Michael Colin (Wellington), Terrance Atkinson (Park Vista), Tavarus Harris (Jupiter Christian), Brad Flag (West Boca), Leonard Smith (Inlet Gove) and Dixon, the current head coach of Santaluces. About 20 former players/coaches got up to talk.

“In the community, he is considered a legend,’’ Santaluces principal Tameka Robinson said. “He has made an impact. To honor him and present him with a court in his honor is very deserving.’’

Robinson and Dixon were on the 40th anniversary committee and moved to get this done for one of Palm Beach County’s best coaches of the past 40 years.

The emcee was LaToya Dixon, Gibson’s daughter who is principal at Village Academy in Delray Beach. Gibson came out of retirement to coach four more seasons at Village Academy and posted his 500th win there.

“He was dedicated to making the kids young men and it wasn’t just about basketball,’’ said Dixon, Gibson’s son-in-law and his former assistant. “It was how to become a man when you go out in the world and show how to handle yourself. I learned everything from him in how to run a program.’’

Wellington coach Matthew Conlin had played for Gibson.

“He taught all of us how to play the right way,’’ Conlin said. “He made us ultimate competitors and shared his love of basketball and it spread to former players who are now coaches. He was always so passionate about it.’’

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Santaluces honors legendary basketball coach Willie Gibson with court-naming