Hall of Fame, former Pioneer grid coach Gilbert dies at 68

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

George Gilbert, the Indiana Football Hall of Famer and former Pioneer football coach, died Oct. 31 after being diagnosed with colon cancer.

He was 68.

Gilbert coached Pioneer from 1986-88 where his teams went 7-12.

He then coached at Clinton Central for 20 years and Tri-Central for 10 years before Clinton Central hired him for a second stint as coach in 2020.

Gilbert coached Tri-Central to the 2013 Class 1A state title. Their tournament run included a 20-14 at Winamac in the semistate before a 20-10 win over Eastern Hancock in the state title game.

An online obituary also reported that Gilbert spent 25 years coaching wrestling and 22 years coaching track.

He was a 1973 Rensselaer grad.