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North Putnam mourns loss of ‘silent giant’ Dan Fouts
BAINBRIDGE — Teacher. Coach. Mentor. Friend. Husband. Father.
Those are just a few of the words being used to describe longtime North Putnam faculty member Dan Fouts in the aftermath of his death this week at age 52.
A math teacher at North Putnam Middle School since August 1992, Fouts was perhaps best known outside the school walls as a coach, having served as a longtime assistant varsity football coach — mainly as the Cougars’ defensive coordinator — and as head or assistant varsity track coach in various stints over 30 years.
North Putnam Middle School Principal Bucky Kramer called Fouts “a silent giant” who put those around him first.
“Whether it was his classroom subject, the sport that he was currently coaching, his love for fishing and the outdoors or his quick wit and silent humor, Mr. Fouts made everyone he came in contact with feel special,” Kramer said. “All of Mr. Fouts’ students were his favorites. All of Mr. Fouts’ athletes were his favorites.
“Dan was loved by co-workers, administration and the community,” Kramer added. “Dan embodied the belief that we can impact everyone around us with our actions and how we give of our talents. Mr. Fouts will be missed greatly.”
Kramer was not alone in his admiration for Fouts. Coaches who worked alongside Fouts (of whom Kramer is one) also shared their thoughts on the man.
Among them is Dave Pasch, who spent 11 years as the Cougars’ head football coach before spending the last 14 in the same role at Indianapolis Lutheran.
“Dan‘s been one of my best friends now for close to 25 years,” Pasch said. “Dan’s a guy that loved kids. He loved relationships with the kids. Through the years, he’s been loyal. He’s had opportunities to go other places. He’s just always committed to the mission, and because of that commitment, he always carried a special level of accountability for everyone around him, including me.
“We coached together for 11 years,” Pasch added. “All it took sometimes was for Dan to give me a look because you knew the commitment he had and the work he was putting in. He was a do-it-right guy. He never compromised. Because you knew who he was and what he stood for, there was that special level of accountability that he carried.”
Pasch added that, dating back 30 years and six head coaches, Fouts had been the one consistent voice in the North Putnam locker room.
“He was with Herb King, myself, Greg Barrett, Brian Crabtree, Sam Carnes and most recently Ryan Burress,” Pasch said. “He has really been the foundation for the program for a long time, along with all the other changes that have been through there. He’s that consistent voice.
“Coaching can be a lonely business,” Pasch concluded. “He’s been loyal to me for a long, long time and one of my closest friends.”
Barrett, who served two stints as Cougar head coach totaling eight seasons and now coaches at South Vermillion, also spoke of Fouts’ consistency within the program.
“Coach Dan Fouts is Mr. North Putnam,” Barrett said. “Besides being the best defensive coordinator in the state, he was a better father, husband, teacher, mentor, friend. A very calm, collected man who never raised his voice or spoke out of turn. But when he did speak people listened — especially the defense. Over the years we spent together I could always count on him taking care of the game plan on defense and never would I interfere.
“When I think of all the intangibles we speak of with our teams such as character, discipline, toughness and love, he is the epitome of all,” Barrett continued. “A man of character who was very disciplined in details, tough as nails and loved his family. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and the community.”
Fouts’ consistency was also noted by Carnes, who coached the Cougars for three years before departing for Traders Point Christian two years ago. Carnes noted that the passing of Fouts and assistant coach Randy Summers as “hard for many in the North Putnam community because they have both meant so much to so many people.”
With the Cougars again looking for a head coach after Burress was dismissed following last season, Fouts’ consistency will be missing from the program.
“The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Dan is his consistency,” Carnes said. “No matter the opponent, Dan was going to pour hours of time into film breaking down the opponent’s offense so he could prepare our kids to be successful. For many of our kids, Coach Fouts was one of the most consistent things in their life for five years. He loved North Putnam, our players, and the other coaches.”
Carnes also felt personally indebted for how Fouts treated him as a first-time head coach.
“The second thing that comes to my mind about Dan is how gracious he was toward me,” Carnes said. “Being a 26-year-old from Hamilton County, I didn’t know much about being a head coach or North Putnam back in 2017. After 27 years of being North Putnam’s defensive coordinator (last year was year 30), Coach Fouts knew a whole lot more than I did. It had to be hard for him to watch me make the many mistakes I made in that first year, but Dan wasn’t a guy that got worked up easily.
“He offered me advice when I asked for it, but let me make mistakes so that I could learn, and I appreciated that from him,” Carnes added. “My ignorance and mistakes caused our relationship to start off on the wrong foot, but Coach Fouts was gracious enough to overlook that and in the process we became friends.”
Like others, Carnes also remembers Fouts as “more reserved than most defensive coordinators, but on the rare occasion that he raised his voice, there wasn’t a person around that didn’t stop what they were doing and listen (head coaches included). Foutsy knew how to pepper the officials without going too far, and he carried a special energy with him come Greencastle week.
“Coach Fouts has been a rock at North Putnam for three decades,” Carnes concluded. “I am grateful to have known him, learned from him and coached with him. His commitment and dedication are rare, and he will be greatly missed.”
Carnes isn’t the only young coach who experienced Fouts’ grace, as Kevin Lutes can attest.
A fifth-grade teacher at Bainbridge, Lutes both took over as track and field head coach from Fouts and has more recently served alongside him, with Lutes serving as girls’ head coach and Fouts coaching the boys.
However, with Fouts’ desire to bring out the best in young people he never exactly left the program.
“My first memorable interaction with Dan was when he first decided to step down as the high school track coach,” Lutes recalled. “He set up a meeting and within the first few minutes, I could tell his knowledge and love of the sport ran deep. He had volumes of books about coaching specific events and binder after binder filled with notes/drills/records he had meticulously kept.”
“Immediately I felt overwhelmed, which I think he sensed,” Lutes added. “He assured me that he’d ‘be around from time to time to help if needed.’ He smiled his sideways grin and sent me on my way.”
It was much more than that, though.
“Little did I know that his ‘from time to time’ actually meant ‘pretty much every day,’” Lutes said. “He would wander out and just take in what was going on. He was never pushy, never drew any attention to himself. He would just observe. With newcomers, there were loads of obvious things to fix. In each case, Dan had the remarkable ability to break down a sometimes complex series of steps into a language that each individual could understand at their own personal level. I don’t know if this was a product of his mathematical mindedness, but it was fascinating to witness firsthand.
“What I found even more uncanny is how he worked with more seasoned athletes,” Lutes continued. “He’d pinpoint the most minute detail, something that most anyone else wouldn’t even realize needed changed and offer some nuggets of insight that improved the athlete’s performance almost immediately. He simply loved being around people and helping out where he could.”
Helping people — that seems to be Fouts’ legacy and one not lost on those who knew him well, such as high school Principal Jason Chew.
“Mr. Fouts is loved by all,” Chew began, “and while it is impossible to know the true impact he has made on our students and community, I believe it is safe to say he has certainly left his mark. Coach Fouts was a man of few words, but when he spoke, it was important. He cared about our kids and our community and spent countless hours working to benefit our children.
“He was caring and compassionate, but had the fire to push students and athletes to be their best,” Chew added. “The stories we heard today from students and staff further demonstrated his love for others. Our heart breaks for his wife Betsy and his entire family. We know Cougar Nation is strong, and as they always do, will come together to support the Fouts family, our students, our faculty/staff and each other.”
A cancer survivor, Fouts had been in the hospital since late December, fighting complications of COVID-19.
During the first round of the Putnam County Classic on Thursday evening, a moment of silence took place prior to the Cougars’ boys’ basketball game with South Putnam.
A celebration of life in honor of Daniel Fouts will be held on Saturday, Feb. 19 from 1-2:30 p.m. in the North Putnam High School gymnasium. This is an open event for any individual who was impacted by Mr. Fouts. At the request of the family, everyone is encouraged to wear orange and blue, as that is what Dan would have wanted. The family also asks that anyone who wishes to share memories of Mr. Fouts is more than welcome to do so. For those wishing to honor Dan, the family encourages individuals to perform acts of kindness for individuals or their community.