Rob Gibson got into the habit of using his one-hour drive from his home in Hendricks County to his job at Owen Valley High School and home again as his “thinking time.”

Gibson, 29, will have significantly shorter drive in his new job. He was officially approved as the football coach at Avon at Monday’s school board meeting.

“I’ll have try to find a new time to think,” Gibson said. “But I’ll save on gas.”

In two seasons at Owen Valley, Gibson led the program to a 22-3 record and the Class 3A program’s first sectional title in 29 years in 2021. The Patriots won a second consecutive sectional title last fall. Gibson, part of two NAIA national championships as a player at Marian University where he graduated as the second all-time leading rusher, was an assistant at Cardinal Ritter, Danville and Greencastle prior to taking the job at Owen Valley.

“Taking the Avon job was the right decision, but it didn’t make it any easier telling people at Owen Valley,” Gibson said. “The administration here is great and I’m very close with all of them. It’s a special place. They believed in us a couple years ago and everybody played their part helping us achieve what we achieved.”

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Mark Bless announced his retirement from coaching in December after the past 13 years at Avon and 33 overall. Bless led Avon to a 92-56 record at Avon, including four sectional titles and two regional championships. Over the past two seasons, the Orioles won only three games combined

But Gibson said the lack of success on the field recently for the Orioles does not detract from what the program can be.

“I have a ton of respect for Mark Bless,” Gibson said. “I know what kind of person he is and what kind of leader he is, so I know what kind of program I’m coming into from that aspect. I know the players have been treated well and I know he has a great staff there, so they have been taught well. The talent is there, and I have a ton of respect for what they have done.”

Gibson was a standout as a player at South Putnam, where he was a two-time all-state selection and set the school’s all-time rushing record. He went on to run for 2,163 career yards at Marian and 25 touchdowns.

“He is a tremendously focused and driven young coach with a wealth of football knowledge,” said Mark Henninger, Gibson’s coach at Marian. “He loves the game and now enjoys the coaching side of it — where he can share his knowledge and passion with young people.”

Gibson said he will begin working soon to get his coaching staff in place. He will begin working at Avon later this semester, filling an open physical education teaching position.

Avon is coming off a 2-9 season, but does have at least a couple of strong pieces to build around in junior quarterback Mason Reynolds and junior offensive tackle Zach Bandy, both with Division I offers.

“Obviously we have to establish a work ethic and a culture that no matter what the results are, we know the work has been put it,” Gibson said. “We want to do the right things off the field and the on-the-field product should take care of itself. I know taking over for coach Bless, there was already a huge emphasis on doing the right things off the field. I’m excited to go in there and learn from people as much as they can learn from me. I’ve learned a lot from a lot of different people, but it’s really figuring out what’s best for the kids and building a culture of love and trust. Once you get there, everything else takes care of itself.”

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA football: Avon hires Owen Valley's Rob Gibson as head coach