Inductees

For St. Francis Borgia Regional High School football coach Dale Gildehaus, it’s more than the incredible number of wins and losses or all the trophies. It’s about faith, family, his players and coaches, and the Borgia Regional High School Community in and beyond Washington, Missouri.

In fact, in today’s world of “what have you done for me lately,” Gildehaus philosophy is a bit more grounded.

“Coaches have a tremendous and lifelong influence on high school athletes. Coaching involves not only the strategy and skills of the game, but behavioral expectation, commitment, compassion, cooperation, loyalty and motivation,” Gildehaus said. “As a coach, my goal is to teach positive leadership and to influence my team to grow positively and successfully with a desire to reach a goal. Hopefully, those skills and disciplines carry over into their personal lives and help them to make good choices and be successful in whatever they choose to do.”

It’s certainly worked for years, and his success is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Gildehaus with the Class of 2018.

Entering this season, Gildehaus had a record of 252-96, with his wins the 10^th most among Missouri prep coaches. That included the Class 3 state championship in 1993, three semifinals, eight quarterfinals and 15 district championships.

Many of the values Gildehaus instills are a direct result of the influence of his Northeast Missouri State University (Truman State) football coach, Russ Sloan.

Gildehaus was a three-year starter at center as the Bulldogs won three MIAA championships in 1969, 1970, and 1971.

“It was Coach Sloan who impressed to treat your players like your own son,” Gildehaus said.

For instance, Sloan once talked him out of leaving the team to return home.

“Little did I realize it was the beginning of a life-long love and career in football began that day,” Gildehaus said.

Gildehaus was an assistant at Union High School under coach Del Rinne.

Rinne, Washington High School’s Jim Scanlan, and Borgia’s Harold Flanagan all made their mark. All three are members of the Missouri High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame.

“Coach Rinne, Coach Scanlan, and Coach Flanagan were all old-school,” Gildehaus said. “Discipline and respect were demanded. You worked hard. Yet, in the end they were there to pick you up and give you the confidence needed.”

Gildehaus has long had family support, first from his parents and five siblings, and then his wife, Beth. They are parents to Christopher, Sandi and Stacy, who was lost in a car accident in 1995. Despite grieving and a heavy heart, Gildehaus returned to the sidelines in the second half that Friday night against St. John Vianney. Vianney won 14-7, but that wasn’t important.

The love and respect given to the Gildehaus family that night was immeasurable.

He has been rewarded with numerous awards, such as the 2014 Pete Adkins Power of Influence in Football award presented by the Missouri State High School Football Coaches Association.

In addition, Dale was part of the 1969-1971 Northeast Missouri State football teams inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

In 2007, Gildehaus was inducted into the MFCA Hall of Fame.

He also is a 1997 inductee of the Truman State Hall of Fame and, in 1995, was named the Jimmy Conzelman Coach of the Year by the National Football Foundation.  Gildehaus continues to serve the Missouri Football and St. Louis Football Coaches Associations.

Despite all the accolades, Gildehaus remains a gentleman and a coach, one who is humble in victory and defeat and deflects praise to his staff and players.   He has mentored more than 40 All-State selections and influenced more than 2,500 players and athletes.

As 2018 All-State lineman Jared Mullen said, “Coach Gildehaus’ influence went way deeper than football.  In addition to preparing me for college ball, he taught me life lessons beyond the football field”.

Many others echo those words.

Dale’s daughter-in law, Sandi, who coaches the Borgia cheerleaders said, “Over time I have developed a ‘What Would Dale Do?’” attitude. He is the kindest, most approachable man. He has been my Knight in Shining Armor, my biggest fan.”

Dale’s granddaughter Anna said, “Whether it is on the field, around school, at home, or about town you can always count on Grandpa to have a smile on his face.  He is known as the coach who not only helps his players be better at the game of football, but also guides his players to strive to be the best in everything they do.”