It’s two days before the Snohomish Panthers will open their first football season in 47 years without assistant coach Keith Gilbertson Sr. somewhere on the sideline, and the slogan adopted by this year’s senior players is, “All for You.†It’s not entirely about Gilby, who died in February at age 83 after coaching at Snohomish High School for 61 continuous …
Gilbertson’s SHS football legacy: 389 wins and a lifetime of support
A desire to coach his own three sons – none of whom fit the runner’s mold — brought Keith Gilbertson Sr. back to Snohomish High football in 1964 as a member of Dick Armstrong’s staff in Armstrong’s second season as head coach of the Panthers. Gilbertson remained with Armstrong for 31 seasons, helping the Panthers win 17 league or …
Gilbertson a difference-maker for Panthers, even in his 80s
Never think that Keith Gilbertson Sr. was merely an iconic figure trotted out to provide inspiration to would-be Panthers. Even in his 80s, Gilbertson made significant contributions to the Snohomish High athletic programs he helped coach. Yes, age took a physical toll on him, and he shouldered less of the workload on game nights in recent years. In 2010, he …
Gilbertson all about relationships
The Postal Service would do well to honor Keith Gilbertson Sr. on a commemorative stamp, simply in recognition of all the postage fees he generated. Throughout his 61-year coaching career at Snohomish, he corresponded regularly with hundreds of coaching colleagues, friends and former students and athletes, many of who became teachers and coaches themselves and viewed him as a …