Coach Ben Stindt, who led Rim to 1976 CIF-SS football title, dead at 68

Another member of the Rim of the World coaching family has died.

This morning, at his home in Pickrell, Neb., Bennet Joseph "Ben" Stindt, 68, died after a long battle with cancer, said Rim athletic director Dave Ochs.

Last year another member of RIm's 1976 CIF-SS championship football coaching staff, Chuck Webb, also died.

"Ben was a good ol' farm boy from Nebraska and he loved football," Ochs said. "He was about the most likeable coach we ever had at Rim. He was just an old country boy and the kids loved him.

"He had a big laugh that was infectious. He was a typical farmer. Our equipment wasn't the best back then and he just took the attitude of whatever was wrong, we'd make do. A little duct tape or bailing wire and we were good to go."

Stindt could also coach some ball, guiding the Fighting Scots to the CIF-SS Division 1A title.

Rim defeated Bishop Union 16-15 in the final minute in the title game, with quarterback Bobby Gradillas - now the Rim coach - handing off an option play to Chuckie Dean, who ran it in from the 3. CIF-SS Player of the Year Greg Ward had set up the score with a long punt return.

"Ben Stint called time out and asked me what play to run," Gradillas said. "I said '19-speed-option.' We hadn't run it all year, but we practiced it. I ran to the left and could keep it or pitch it. I pitched it to Chuckie and he went around the corner and scored."

Gradillas said he learned much by watching Stindt on the sideline.

"He was an outstanding coach," the current Rim coach said. "The trouble I have as coach is sometimes I want to do everything instead of delegating. Ben wasn't a great offensive or defensive mind, but he had good coaches (under him) and he let them coach. He kept the team together and he worked us hard and we were always in condition and ready to play."

Stindt taught at Rim for 14 years and coached the football team for eight. He also coached baseball, wrestling and track and field.

He was named the Coach of the Year by the All-Southern California Board of Athletics and also received the Kellogg's Foundation Coach of the Year Award following that '76 season.

He returned to Nebraska after '76 to run the family farm after his father became ill. That is where he and wife Linda reared their four children.

A graduate of Beatrice High School in Nebraska, he then returned to his alma mater and taught math and coached football. He was the head coach of the Orangemen from 1978 through '83. From 1984 until his retirement from education in 2002, he taught physical education at two elementary schools.

Even after retirement from education, he stayed in the game as a prep football official, while serving as a substitute teacher at Beatrice's four elementary schools.

Stindt also enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling, camping and playing cards.

A source of pride was his 1917 Model N Waterloo Boy tractor that he restored and which took first place in the 2007 Homestead Days parade during the 150th Beatrice anniversary celebration.

Stindt also found time to occasionally return to Rim to watch the Fighting Scots play and renew acquaintances with such old friends as Webb and Ochs, among others. He attended the 1976 team's 20-year reunion in '96 and also attended a game in 2007.

Stindt leaves behind wife Linda, whom he met at Midland-Lutheran College in Fremont, Neb. where he was an all-conference running back and also lettered in track and wrestling.

After Midland-Lutheran, Stindt furthered his education at San Diego State and lived with his wife in California for 15 years before his return to the Midwest.

Bobby Gradillas said the former Rim coach had planned to assist a prep team in Nebraska this season and had spoke to Frank Gradillas - Bobby's father - about strategy.

Frank Gradillas and Ochs are the only living coaches now from that '76 title team.

Funeral services for Stindt are at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Nebraska.

A memorial has been established to the Ben J. Stindt Scholarship Fund through the Beatrice Educational Foundation, the Voice of St. John Radio Broadcast and the Beatrice Community Hospital Hospice Program.