John Leonard Lidy

John Leonard Lidy, age 71, was a son, brother, soldier, husband, father, grandfather, friend, coach, and “father” to generations of young high school football players in Southern Indiana. He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 46 years, whom he met at what was then Evansville College in 1966. Although there are differing versions to how the two met and started to date, the fact is they made a strong union with utmost support and love for each other. They were a “team”, which turned out to be a word that defined John Lidy’s life from beginning to end. John was a man with great vision, drive, faith and integrity. After serving in the U.S. Army in the early 1970’s, and eventually retiring as a Major, John not only had great respect and admiration for his country; but he further used his leadership skills as he began his next career with young boys as a teacher and football coach at Castle High School in Warrick County, Indiana. After 30 years of coaching, mentoring young boys, including his own two sons, he and Nancy retired to Fishers, Indiana to live near their sons and their families. John adored his new “team” during retirement, this one consisting of six young grandchildren - Emma, Max, Kate, Mia, John Thomas (“JT”), and Mallory. He delighted in spending hours with them, giving them all little special touches of himself, whether in comments of encouragement or in that dollar bill he would give each one of them every single time he saw them. His greatest pride, his greatest accomplishment, as he often said, was the privilege in raising two fine sons, John Vincent Lidy and George Allen Lidy. Both sons were part of his Castle teams in the mid 1990’s, culminating with Coach Lidy’s second State Championship in 1994. John was then given the opportunity to continue watching both sons play college football while walking into many of the major collegiate stadiums in our country. Even after coaching one of his 200+ victories on Friday Night, John was pumped and ready to get to the Saturday game to watch a “Lidy on the field.” Today, Vince is following in his father’s footsteps by being in the football coaching family at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Ind. Allen is a local defense attorney in the Indianapolis area. The boys will miss their dad dearly, but they must know the love and pride he held in his heart for both of them. John is also survived by two loving daughters-in-law, Jaime and Shelley Lidy; as well as a brother, Terry Lidy of Newton, Illinois, birthplace to John. Terry’s two children, nephew Paul Joseph, and niece, Kara also survive him along with several cousins, aunts & uncles in the Newton area. John was preceded in death by his parents, Len and Marie Lidy; and his in-laws, George and Margaret Allen. Coach John Lidy’s Castle teams won 209 games under his direction, including the 3A State Championship in 1982 when his undefeated team beat an undefeated Hobart team 26-23. Twelve years later in 1994, Coach Lidy’s underdog team led by his son Vince at quarterback and younger son Allen, dominated previously undefeated Portage 30-12 to win the 5A State Championship, making Coach Lidy the only coach in this history of the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference to win 2 state football titles. Coach Lidy was inducted into the Indiana High School Football Hall of Fame in December 2000. He is also a member of the University of Evansville Hall of Fame (1990) after playing football and baseball in the 1960s. This October, Coach Lidy was set to be inducted into the inaugural class of the Greater Evansville Football Hall of Fame. Coach Lidy’s final athletic honor during his life came in September 2013 when Castle High School renamed its football field to “John Lidy Field” to pay homage to his 30 years shaping the lives of the young men who came to play for and love him as part of his team. A memorial celebrating the life of John Lidy will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 2:00pm at the Northview Christian Church, Fishers Campus, located at 14842 E. 136th Street, Fishers, Indiana 46037. In lieu of flowers contributions can be sent to the newly established Coach John L Lidy Scholarship Football fund at Castle High School, Newburgh, IN 47630.

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John Leonard Lidy

July 27, 1945 - September 9, 2016