ATHENS, Ohio –– Fred Gibson, 78, passed away on June 26, 2025, after a brief illness. He leaves behind his beloved family and a legacy as an influential longtime teacher, coach, athlete, mentor and champion of youth sports in Athens County, Ohio.
Fred, who many knew as “Gibby,” was born on Sept. 12, 1946, in Athens, Ohio. He attended Athens High School, where he played basketball and baseball for legendary Athens Bulldogs coaches Charles McAfee and Ed Rannow. Upon his graduation in 1964, he attended Ohio University, playing basketball and baseball for the Bobcats.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in history and government in 1969, Fred began working at Columbus South High School in Columbus, Ohio, where he taught history and coached basketball, track and cross-country. In 1971, he returned home to Athens to begin an esteemed 33-year teaching and coaching career with the Athens City Schools.
In addition to teaching civics, Fred served as the assistant basketball coach at Athens High School for several years before assuming the head basketball coach position from 1976–1993 and 1995–1998. He served as the head golf coach for three years and as assistant soccer coach for one year.
Fred made his biggest mark in baseball, retiring in 2012 with the most successful coaching record in the school district’s history. Beginning as the assistant baseball coach from 1971–1981, Fred ascended to the role of head baseball coach in 1989 and led the Bulldogs for 23 years. During his tenure, he was awarded Coach of the Year seven times; four in the SEOAL and three in the TVC. His teams earned 337 wins, four SEOAL conference titles, three TVC titles, two district runner-up titles in 1997 and 1998, and four district championships in 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2004. In addition, a team coached by Fred won the Senior League World Series in 1987.
Although he formally retired from teaching and coaching in 2004 and 2012, respectively, Fred continued to serve the Athens City Schools as a substitute teacher and sports announcer. In addition to announcing all of the district’s varsity football games for three decades, Fred served as the voice of basketball, volleyball, soccer and football games for local broadcasts on Nelsonville TV Cable and WAIS/WSEO Radio in Nelsonville for many years.
In recognition of Fred’s decades of service, the Athens City School District Board of Education named the driveway adjacent to Rannow Baseball Field “Gibby Way” in 2022.
Fred is survived by his wife of 50 years, Pat Gibson of The Plains; children Bryan (Andrea) Gibson of The Plains, Shellie (Steve) McVey of Guysville and Shane (Jackie) Orcutt of Athens; grandchildren Taylor and Devin Orcutt of Athens, Dean (Kayla) Maffin of Tuppers Plains, and Bridgette McVey of Nelsonville; great-grandchildren Ava and Audrey Maffin and Tina and JR Geer; brother Larry (Debbie) Gibson of Athens; sisters-in-law Barb Corrigan of Athens and Deborah Carter of Nelsonville; longtime friend Brenda Stricklin of The Plains, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, June (Bateman) and Raymond Gibson.
The family is grateful for the many friends, colleagues, former players and students who showed their support for Fred during his brief illness, through visits, cards, flowers and messages of appreciation.
A Celebration of Life event will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Ed Rannow Field at Athens High School in The Plains. Remarks will begin at 5 p.m.; family, friends and community members are encouraged to share their stories to remember and honor “Gibby.”
