Gary graduated from Rice Lake High School in 1979 as a multiple letter-winner in football and wrestling. In 2001 he was hired to coach the Warrior girls softball team. He won more games in the least amount of time than all other coaches in the history of RLHS. All told, he was 274 and 138 in 16 seasons, for a .665 winning percentage. His teams put Rice Lake on the map in Wisconsin when it came to girls softball and were consistently ranked in the top ten. He won two conference championships in the Big Rivers conference and finished runner-up six times. His teams won 14 Regional Championships in 16 years and 5 Sectional Championships. At State, Gary’s team was runner-up in 2010, but in 2004 they were the WIAA Division II State Champions, going 22 and 4 for the season. The 2004 team is 1 of only 6 to win a state high school championship at RLHS. The success that his teams enjoyed is a testimony to Gary being a tough coach, pushing his players to the limit. His teams were solid in fundamentals, and watching his teams take pre-game infield and outfield was precision; watched by everyone, often including the opposing teams. Gary was an aggressive coach who figured out the game and how to win. He also officiated WIAA wrestling matches in the area and at state tournaments for many years. On February 8, 2020, Gary was inducted into the Wisconsin State Fastpitch Softball Hall of Fame. He retired from coaching in 2016 and retired from the City of Rice Lake Electrical Department in December of 2020. Gary currently lives in the Rice Lake area.