Coach Rob Gibson leaving the Owen Valley Patriots Football program to become the new Avon Orioles Head Coach

SPENCER, IN – It was reported to us this morning that Owen Valley’s head football coach has accepted a new job with the Avon Orioles football program. Coach Gibson’s first two years were a success with the Patriots, achieving back-to-back Sectional titles and touting a 22 and 3 record.

Last year Owen Valley was great, earning the top spot in our Top 25 list for Southern Indiana football several times. They took Down Gibson Southern in the sectional, and had a clear shot for a regional title before being surprised by Monrovia. We thought they could make a state run.

Coach Gibson takes the helms from retired Mark Bless, who coached IHSAA football for 33 years, 13 seasons at Avon. He led the Orioles to four sectional titles and two regional championships in 2015 and 2017. Bless was 92-56 with Avon.

The past couple seasons have been rough for Avon. Last season they went 2-9, and 1-9 the season before that. This could mean that Coach Gibson has some rebuilding to do, and I’m sure he will with success.

We assumed that Coach Gibson would be leaving Owen Valley after his first two seasons, and this Avon job is a great opportunity, and it’s a lot closer to where he currently lives. The Owen Valley staff will be on the lookout for another solid coach to lead what is still a very good Patriots football team.