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Bios

Andy Deig

Andy Deig is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 and was an all-state linebacker for Reitz in 2003. He played in the 2004 IFCA All-Star Game and also played at Wabash College. See also All-State players IFCA All-Star players

Andy Hape

Andy Hape was Reitz Football’s thirteenth head coach. He was announced as the Panthers’ new coach on May 6, 2013 and stepped down on Jan. 24, 2020. During his seven years, Hape compiled a 56-23 record. Points of interest All-state linebacker for Reitz in 1993 Played in 1994 IFCA All-Star Game Played at Western Kentucky …

Archie Owen

Archie Owen played for Herman Byers‘ first undefeated team in 1946. Owen went on to become the head coach at Bosse High School from 1961-83 and built a 111-99-13 record. His son, Mike, and grandson, Andy, both went on to be the head coach at Central High School. Owen was inducted into the Indiana Football …

Art Deig

The late Art Deig was inducted into the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2008 and was an all-state tackle for Reitz in 1940. A World War II Air Force veteran, he was one of the founders of Deig Brothers and was a staple of the West Side and Reitz Football. Deig, 91, passed away …

Bill Coleman

Bill Coleman is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 and was an all-state halfback for Reitz in 1957. See also All-State players

Bill Droll, Sr.

Bill Droll, Sr. is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2008 and was an all-state quarterback for Reitz in 1927. See also All-State players

Bill Hape

Bill Hape was Reitz Football’s ninth head coach from 1983 to 1990 and compiled a 46-38 record. Titles won at Reitz Sectional – 2 (1985, 1989) SIAC – 1 (1986) City – 1 (1986) West Side Nut Club – 3 (1986, 1989, 1990) Points of interest All-city player for Reitz Played at Western Kentucky Assistant …

Bob Ashworth

Bob Ashworth was Reitz Football’s eighth head coach from 1978 to 1982 and compiled a 29-18 record. Titles won at Reitz City – 2 (1978, 1980) West Side Nut Club – 5 (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982) Points of interest Son of Indiana Football Hall of Famer George Ashworth, who coached at Mount Vernon, East …

Bob Gaddis

Bob Gaddis was Reitz Football’s tenth head coach from 1991 to 2000 and compiled a 64-42 record. Titles won at Reitz Regional – 1 (1992) Sectional – 2 (1992, 1999) SIAC – 2 (1992, 1996) City – 2 (1992, 1996) West Side Nut Club – 4 (1992, 1993, 1995, 1996) Points of interest Studied at …

Bob Nelson

Bob Nelson is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014 and was an all-state quarterback for Reitz in 1971. He played in the 1972 IFCA All-Star Game. He was also inducted into the Greater Evansville Football Hall of Fame in 2021. His leadership, versatility, and athleticism were key to a state championship …

Bob Padgett

Bob Padgett is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007 and was Reitz Football’s seventh head coach from 1969 to 1977. During that time, he compiled a 79-13 record. Titles won at Reitz State – 1 (1971) Regional – 1 (1977) Sectional – 2 (1976, 1977) SIAC – 4 (1971, …

Bob Stephenson

Bob Stephenson is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007 and was an all-state wide receiver and kicker for Reitz in 1977. He played in the 1978 IFCA All-Star Game and also played at Indiana University. Stephenson is a long-time assistant for the Panthers and was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of …

Brian Claybourn

Brian Claybourn is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2008. While at Reitz, he was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and soccer. He grew up playing basketball as well as soccer before focusing primarily on football. As a junior at Reitz, he was voted all-conference and all-metro punter and his …

C.V. Maple

Charles V. Maple was Reitz Football’s second head coach. He was only there for one year and compiled a 2-5 record. Points of interest Attended Rochester High School, DePauw University and Indiana University High School coaching record Year Team Record Reitz High School (2-5, 1 year) 1921 Reitz 2-5 TOTAL (2-5, 1 year) See also …

Charles Brunson

Charles Brunson is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2008 and was an all-state quarterback for Reitz in 1931. See also All-State players

Charlie Fisher

Charlie Fisher was a two-time all-state player for Reitz in 1946 and 1947 and inducted posthumously into the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Fisher played for Evansville College, and, after graduation, became Mississinewa High School’s head coach. He lead the Indians for 36 years, from 1954 to 1976 and again from 1981 …

Charlie Orth

Charlie Orth is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 and was an all-state quarterback for Reitz in 1961. He also played at Vanderbilt University. See also All-State players

Chuck Brunson

Chuck Brunson is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2008 and was an all-state quarterback for Reitz in 1966. He was also inducted into the Greater Evansville Football Hall of Fame in 2021. See also All-State players

Chuck Capshaw

Chuck graduated in 2006. Links of interest Reitz alumni continue their love of football with Evansville Enforcers Read Chuck’s full interview for the 2016 Evansville Enforcers article in the PantherPlus Membership Area!

Cory Brunson

Cory Brunson is Reitz Football’s fourteenth head coach. He took the helm on Feb. 25, 2020. Points of interest As a player for the Panthers, he was voted onto several all-star teams: 1995 Bloomington Herald-Times Big State (All-State) special mention wide receiver 1996 All-State (unknown selector) Bloomington Herald-Times Big State (All-State) second team quarterback Evansville …

David Townsend, Jr.

David Townsend, Jr. is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014 and was an all-state linebacker for Reitz in 1992. As defensive captain of the 1992 Panthers, he earned all-state honors and led the Panthers to their first semi-state championship game. He led the team in tackles in 1991 & 1992 …

Don Hansen

Don Hansen is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007 and was an all-state fullback for Reitz in 1961. He also played at the University of Illinois and in the National Football League from 1966 to 1977. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Greater Evansville Football Hall of …

Don Henry

Don Henry is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007 and was an all-American and all-state end for Reitz in 1950. He also played at Evansville College. A long-time football assistant for the Panthers, Henry also was the school’s head wrestling coach for many years and is a member of the …

Don Waterman

Don Waterman was inducted into the Class of 2007 Reitz Football Hall of Fame. His contributions to Reitz Football were numerous, including serving as the long-time equipment manager for the Panthers, and his pre-game speeches were the stuff of legend. He will always be regarded as the No. 1 Reitz Football fan of all time. …

Doug Harp

Doug Harp is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 and was an all-state guard for Reitz in 1960 and 1961. He served the United States as a Marine and was killed in Vietnam. See also All-State players

Earl Milligan

Earl Milligan is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007 and was an all-American & all-state guard for Reitz in 1972. He played in the 1973 IFCA All-Star game and played at Purdue University. He was also inducted into the Greater Evansville Football Hall of Fame in 2021. See also All-State …

Ed Wessel

Ed Wessel is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014 and was an all-state tackle for Reitz in 1947. After playing for Evansville College, he became Oblong (Ill.) High School’s head coach, and later an assistant at Bosse. He then served as an assistant for North before becoming the Huskies’ head coach …

Elmer W. Weber

Elmer W. Weber is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2008 and was Reitz Football’s fourth head coach from 1925 to 1940. During that time, he compiled a 94-40-13 record. Titles won at Reitz State – 2 (1933, 1940) Tiny Ten Conference – 2 (1927, 1930) City – 3 (1930, …

Forrest McCaffry

Forrest McCaffry was an all-state player for Reitz in 1938 and played for the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and Purdue University. He coached at Jackson Center High School for five years & New Albany High School for 22 years, compiling a 145-95-18 record. He was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in …

George Murphy

George Murphy was Reitz Football’s first head coach from 1919 to 1920 and compiled a 6-6 record. Points of interest Attended Boonville High School, Oakland City College and Indiana State Normal After leaving Reitz, he became a professor (?) at Evansville College High School coaching record Year Team Record Reitz High School (6-6, 2 years) …

Herman Byers

Herman Byers is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007 and was Reitz Football’s sixth head coach from 1942 to 1968. During that time, he compiled a 189-51-15 record. Titles won at Reitz State – 6 (1948, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961) SIAC – 13 (1942, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, …

Jack Schaefer

Jack Schaefer is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2008 and was an all-state halfback for Reitz in 1942. He served the United States during World War II and was a long-time assistant coach for the Panthers. See also All-State players

James Claybourn

James Claybourn (“Jim”) is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007. His contributions to Reitz Football are numerous, including serving as a historian and statistician for the Panthers. Jim’s passion for Reitz was so deep that he very rarely missed a football game. On his honeymoon, Reitz was playing in Indianapolis, …

Jim Byers

Jim Byers is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2008 and was an All-American and all-state player for Reitz in 1953. He also played for the University of Michigan. He coached at Princeton High School from 1959 to 1962 and Boonville High School from 1962 to 1965, compiling a 34-25-1 record. …

John Hart

John Hart is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020 and was Reitz Football’s eleventh head coach from 2001 to 2007. During that time, he compiled a 73-17 record. Titles won at Reitz State – 1 (2007) Semi-State – 1 (2007) Regional – 2 (2001, 2007) Sectional – 5 (2001, 2003, …

Josh Whicker

Josh Whicker is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007 and was an all-state tackle for Reitz in 1992. In addition to repeating that same honor in 1993, he was also voted all-American. He also played at Vanderbilt University. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Greater Evansville Football …

Ken Hansen

Ken Hansen is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 and was an all-state center for Reitz in 1960. See also All-State players

Marlon Flemming

Marlon Flemming is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2008 and was an all-state tackle for Reitz in 1974. He played in the 1975 IFCA All-Star Game and also played at Indiana University. Mr. Flemming passed away on Feb. 5, 2015. He was inducted posthumously into the inaugural class of the …

Mick Schnell

Mick Schnell is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2008 and was an all-state running back for Reitz in 1977 & 1978. He also played at the University of Evansville. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Greater Evansville Football Hall of Fame on Oct. 9, 2016. See also All-State …

Mike Clem

Mike was an all-state player and IFCA Region 9 All-Star center for the Panthers’ 2009 state championship team and graduated in 2010. Links of interest 2009 is No. 6 Most Offensive Team in Reitz Football History Reitz alumni continue their love of football with Evansville Enforcers Read Mike’s full interview for the 2016 Evansville Enforcers …

Mike Dassel

Mike Dassel is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2008 and was an all-state kicker for Reitz in 1975 & 1976. He played in the 1977 IFCA All-Star Game and also played at Georgia Tech. He was also inducted into the Greater Evansville Football Hall of Fame in 2021. See also …

Mike Horn

Mike Horn is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 and was an all-state linebacker for Reitz in 1972. He also played at the University of Evansville and was a long-time assistant for the Panthers. Horn is also a member of the Greater Evansville Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017. See …

Morris Riley

Morris Riley, who graduated from Reitz in 1942, played quarterback for the Panthers and received the Kiwanis Award in 1941. He also played at Evansville College before moving on to coaching. He led Central’s freshmen & reserve teams for 6 years before becoming North High School’s first football coach in 1956. He won two city …

Nate Eickhoff

Nate graduated in 2014. Links of interest Reitz alumni continue their love of football with Evansville Enforcers Read Nate’s full interview for the 2016 Evansville Enforcers article in the PantherPlus Membership Area!

Nick Hart

Nick Hart is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 and was an all-state quarterback for the Mighty Panthers in 2003. He also played at Western Kentucky University. Hart was an assistant for Reitz but is now the head coach for Gibson Southern High School. Hart was inducted into the inaugural class …

Pat McCaffry

Pat McCaffry was an all-state player for Reitz in 1945 and played for Purdue University. He played for the Indianapolis Tryons semi-pro football team and was a scout for the Houston Oilers. He coached at Beech Grove, Brazil & Lafayette Jefferson High Schools. He was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1980. …

Pete Fisher

Pete Fisher is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2008 and was an all-state quarterback for Reitz in 1948 & 1949. He also played at Indiana University. He was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1979 and into the inaugural class of the Greater Evansville Football Hall of Fame on …

Phil Byers

Phil Byers is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 and was an all-state halfback for Reitz in 1950. He also played basketball at Indiana University for the team that won the 1953 NCAA Championship. See also All-State players

Ralph Becker

Ralph Becker was Reitz Football’s fifth head coach in 1941 and compiled a 6-3 record. Points of interest Born in Milford, Neb. Attended Hastings College in Nebraska and Columbia University and did graduate work at Indiana & Purdue Universities Resigned from Reitz to become a school administrator; later became superintendent and eventually a field representative …

Richard Nau

Richard “Porky” Nau is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2008 and was a center for Reitz in 1961. He is a long-time coach and teacher at Reitz.

Ricky Crider

Ricky Crider is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 and was an all-state running back for Reitz in 2004 & 2005. He played in the 2006 IFCA All-Star Game and also played at Northern Illinois. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Greater Evansville Football Hall of Fame …

Ryan Given

Ryan Given is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Points of interest: Placekicker for ReitzFootball.com’s 1980’s & 1990’s All-Decade Teams (only player to be on two decade teams) As a Panther, he was voted onto several all-star teams: 1989 AP All-State Class 4A kicker All-SIAC kicker Press All-City placekicker …

Tim Bishop

Tim Bishop is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020. He was also inducted into the Greater Evansville Football Hall of Fame in 2021. Points of interest: Defensive lineman for ReitzFootball.com’s 1960’s All-Decade Team As a Panther, he was voted onto several all-star teams: 1967 All-SIAC A-Division center Courier All-City …

Tom Buck

Tom Buck is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007 and was an all-American & all-state linebacker for Reitz in 1970 & 1971. He played in the 1972 IFCA All-Star game and also played at Indiana University. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Greater Evansville Football Hall of …

Tom Trainer

Tom Trainer is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 and was an all-American & all-state end for Reitz in 1957. He also played at Indiana University. See also All-State players

Tony Lewis

Tony Lewis was Reitz Football’s twelfth head coach from 2008 to 2012 and compiled a 53-11 record. Titles won at Reitz State – 1 (2009) Semi-State – 1 (2009) Regional – 2 (2009, 2010) Sectional – 3 (2009, 2010, 2012) SIAC – 3 (2008, 2009, 2010) City – 4 (2008, 2009, 2010) West Side Nut …

Victor Johnson, MD

Victor Johnson, MD, played for Herman Byers’ first undefeated team in 1945. Dr. Johnson went on to attend Indiana University and became the team physician for Reitz and Mater Dei, holding that position for over 20 years. He was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1979. Indiana Football Hall of Fame profile

William V. Slyker

William V. Slyker was Reitz Football’s third head coach from 1922 to 1924 and compiled a 12-13-1 record. Titles won at Reitz City – 1 (1923) Points of interest Born on Feb. 14, 1899 Played for the Huron High School that won the Ohio state championship in 1917 Served in World War I Played football …

Zach Harris

Zach, who was the team’s football manager for several years, graduated in 2010. Links of interest Zach Harris takes the field with his teammates Reitz alumni continue their love of football with Evansville Enforcers Read Zach’s full interview for the 2016 Evansville Enforcers article in the PantherPlus Membership Area!

Zach Whicker

Zach Whicker is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Points of interest: Offensive lineman for ReitzFootball.com’s 2000’s All-Decade Team In 2001, he was on several all-star teams: IFCA Class 5A All-State offensive line AP Class 5A All-State honorable mention offensive line Bloomington Herald-Times Big State (All-State) offensive tackle Courier …

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