Former Columbus East football coach Bob Gaddis holds hands with his wife Karen as he waves to Columbus East fans during a ceremony to name the Columbus East High School football stadium, Bob Gaddis Stadium at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. Gaddis is the winningest coach in the history of Columbus East football program.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Prior to the kickoff of Friday’s football rivalry game between Columbus East and Columbus North, the Olympians community paid tribute its longtime, legendary coach.
Former East and Hall of Fame coach Bob Gaddis was honored with a video tribute. Gaddis stood at center of the field along with his family and East administration as the stadium was named in his honor.
“It’s a humbling honor,” Gaddis said Friday. “I thought about my wife (Karen) and family. I’m glad she’s here tonight to be a part of this honor. I got to see a lot of great coaches. I got to reach out to most of them this week. A lot of great players and a great administration. I’ve seen a lot of parents tonight. It was a perfect storm, really.”
A video tribute lasted a few minutes and former players Rhett Myers, Harry Crider, Alex Cowan, Markell Jones and Stevie Brown all mentioned that Gaddis shaped them and helped to become who they are now off the field.
Gaddis led the Olympians to a Class 4A state title in 2013, a 5A state championship in 2017 and a 5A state runner-up finish in 2016. He also coached East to the Final Four in 4A in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2014 and in 5A in 2018.
Gaddis, who also spent several years as the athletics director at East, is one of the all-time winningest coaches in Indiana football history with a 330-143 record in 42 years overall as a coach, the last 20 coming with the Olympians before retiring after the 2020 season. During his time at East, Gaddis went 212-43 while winning 11 sectional, 10 regional, three semistate and two state championships. His teams also won 17 consecutive Hoosier Hills Conference titles and 96 straight HHC games.
“I always told our players that football practice was my favorite time of the day, and it was because I got to see a lot of great people,” Gaddis said. “It’s an honor. It really is. I never really thought it would happen when I got here. My wife and I were talking about this today. Forty-three years of coaching went by fast, and being out for five years went by fast.”
Now the official name going forward for the East football facility will be “John Stafford Field at Bob Gaddis Stadium.”
“Obviously, it feels great,” Gaddis said. “The honor would have never happened if I didn’t have family support, great, great players and parents. The guys I reached out to this week, I said, ‘Even though I am getting my name up there, and they’re naming it after me, you should take pride in the fact that you helped do that,’ and I really do mean that. We had a great group of guys to work with. It’s quite an honor.”
