Joanne Gibson, RDN, FMNS, CLT, LDN

Friend’s Central Field Hockey Coach – I began my field hockey career in ninth grade and have had a passion for the sport ever since. Prior to high school, I was involved in competitive gymnastics from the young age of five. By eighth grade, I was mentally and physically exhausted due to the long hours of training and restrictions on nutrition. I was not learning what to eat to fuel my performance but what not to eat to make weight.  I was ready for a positive change.

This is where my love for the sport started, and continues to grow today. I played all through high school with an amazing team and group of friends I still keep in touch with. We won our State Championship my senior year and I received the honor of first team All-State twice and was nominated for New Jersey Athlete of the Year. I participated in Futures field hockey, Garden State Games every summer and field hockey festivals.

My collegiate career started at Lafayette College. After a semester, I transferred to Syracuse University for a more diverse environment academically and for a field hockey program that was year round. We won Big East Champions my sophomore year and I was named an Academic All-American my senior year. My coaches also honored me with the “Silent Hero Award.” This was probably the most honorable award I have ever received. The memories and friendships I made at Syracuse continue to grow and will last a lifetime.

Upon graduation from Syracuse, I completed my Dietetic Internship at the College of St. Elizabeth in New Jersey. I earned my credentials as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Nutrition has always been a passion of mine since I grew up an athlete and grew up in a sport with such an emphasis placed on body weight and image. I have worked in many different roles over the years, but the most rewarding part of my job is working with student athletes. I never had anyone to help me fuel my body for my sport and teach me how to use nutrition to optimize my performance.

I continued to play field hockey after college and then became very involved in ball hockey. This is where I met my dear friend Lisa Mansure:). I played in the Ball Hockey World Cup in Newfoundland 11 years ago. I recently started playing field hockey again and also love to swim, run and do yoga.

This will be my second season coaching field hockey with Lisa at Friends’ Central Middle School and High School. Standing on the sideline beside one of my closest friends and coaching these players has been more rewarding than I can put into words. I also teach nutrition to the health classes at Friends’ Central which I highly enjoy.

I am a wife and have three children ages 8, 17 and 19 years old. My oldest daughter plays soccer in college and my 8 year old plays club soccer and field hockey with me. Both of my teens suffered from mental health issues due to covid and lack of support from certain teachers and coaches. I want my 8 year old to grow up in a more positive environment than they did. This is one of my biggest motivators for starting this business with Lisa. These young athletes are so impressionable and need our support and guidance to see the positive experience that being a part of field hockey can give them.  I want these players to embrace our culture and create the memories and friendships that I did!