A Legend is Walking Away

[temptation]

Mooresville HC Mike Gillin is calling it quits after 47 years and 373 wins (2nd most in state history).

Anybody have any good Gillin stories?

[BDGiant93]

2 hours ago, temptation said:

Mooresville HC Mike Gillin is calling it quits after 47 years and 373 wins (2nd most in state history).

Anybody have any good Gillin stories?

Nothing specific, but I remember the great battles in the late 1990s when Decatur Central was just so close to beating Ben Davis in the Sectional. I have no doubt that if any of those really good Hawks teams had gotten by the Giants that they would have been contenders further down the line at State. The 2000 Sectional at Ben Davis was a classic.

Edited October 28, 2025 by BDGiant93

[Coach Nowlin]

2 hours ago, temptation said:

Mooresville HC Mike Gillin is calling it quits after 47 years and 373 wins (2nd most in state history).

Anybody have any good Gillin stories?

🙂

 

[EasyEJay]

I got one, my dad has tons BUT most are not the totally appropriate and have little to do with coaching football! 🤣
 

a true legend in Indiana HS coaching more than deserving of his Hall Of Fame status. Was cool to see him resurrect a good football program like Mooresville these last handful of years . 

[bucksfan]

Did he retire or otherwise since they have been struggling as of late?

How many state titles has he won?

[Frozen Tundra]

51 minutes ago, bucksfan said:

Did he retire or otherwise since they have been struggling as of late?

How many state titles has he won?

He’s 74 and said he had planned to retire after last year but changed his mind.

0 state titles. His 1989 Tri-West team played for a 2A state title but lost. That was the only time he had gotten a team to state.

Edited October 28, 2025 by Frozen Tundra

[bucksfan]

Thanks, FT.

[Coach Nowlin]

2005, we won Butler 7 on 7 by beating Indian Creek, they were throwing 30-40 yard fades and deep ball concepts, we just ran non stop curls, hitchs and out routes, that did not set well 🙂.      We giggled 

[fenderbender]

Ended my playing days that last season at Tri West.  Worst weather I ever played in.  

[temptation]

On 10/28/2025 at 12:52 PM, bucksfan said:

Did he retire or otherwise since they have been struggling as of late?

How many state titles has he won?

This satire?

[Robert]

On 10/29/2025 at 9:43 AM, Coach Nowlin said:

2005, we won Butler 7 on 7 by beating Indian Creek, they were throwing 30-40 yard fades and deep ball concepts, we just ran non stop curls, hitchs and out routes, that did not set well 🙂.      We giggled 

All I can think of is that great 1989 AA State Championship game and some Rose Royce song.  Time to go look on the facebook fans page and see the old banter. 

[bucksfan]

20 hours ago, temptation said:

This satire?

No, just curious.  They have not been as good since the previous coach's kids graduated.   I knew he won a lot of games, but I didn't know if he had won any state titles.  So in the day of "what have you done for me lately", or in coaching, "how many games did you win this year?" it would not be crazy if "other" occurred. Someone posted that he thought about it last year.  Makes sense that at his age and past success, now is the time to retire.

 

[crimsonace1]

On 10/28/2025 at 12:52 PM, bucksfan said:

Did he retire or otherwise since they have been struggling as of late?

How many state titles has he won?

They won a sectional two years ago and have largely been competitive despite being the smallest school in their conference. I wouldn't count that as struggling. 

[temptation]

2 hours ago, bucksfan said:

No, just curious.  They have not been as good since the previous coach's kids graduated.   I knew he won a lot of games, but I didn't know if he had won any state titles.  So in the day of "what have you done for me lately", or in coaching, "how many games did you win this year?" it would not be crazy if "other" occurred. Someone posted that he thought about it last year.  Makes sense that at his age and past success, now is the time to retire.

 

I’m so confused here.  Dockery’s (the previous coach) son is currently a senior at Reitz.

Also, the internet is your friend…

https://indianahsfootball.homestead.com/logs/Mooresville.htm#load

[bucksfan]

Reitz Memorial.  His kids (players) were what I was referring to.

My contacts around Mooresville apparently consider not winning the conference as "struggling." Clearly, the records up to this year indicate otherwise. 

Back to my original point, "other" is not out of the question, since some people around Mooresville think "struggling" is not winning the conference.

Thanks.