KISSIMMEE, Fla. — For 18 years, Marlin Roberts has stood on the sidelines as head football coach of the Gateway Panthers, guiding young athletes through victories, defeats, challenges, and opportunities to grow. Through it all, his commitment to Gateway High School and the students he coaches has remained constant.
On Friday night, October 30, that dedication was recognized as Roberts received the 2026 Positively Osceola’s Osceola Air Coach of the Year Award, celebrating a remarkable season that saw the Panthers accomplish something no Gateway football team had ever done before — win eight games in a single season.
The recognition came following Gateway’s regular-season finale against Celebration High School, where the Panthers made school history with their eighth victory, finishing the season with an impressive 8–2 record.
Among those watching the special presentation was Gateway Principal Georgette Paul-Zin, whose connection to Roberts and the school goes back more than two decades. Paul-Zin began her career at Gateway as a paraprofessional the same year Roberts joined the school, making the evening particularly meaningful as two longtime members of the Gateway family shared in celebrating a milestone years in the making.
But for Roberts, the evening was about far more than wins, records, or individual recognition. It was about the players, fellow coaches, and Gateway community who helped make the season possible.
“We had a great season, the most wins in school history,” Roberts said while accepting the honor. “I love these guys. They played some lights-out ball this year.”
Holding his Positively Osceola’s Osceola Air Coach of the Year plaque, Roberts was quick to acknowledge the people working alongside him throughout the season.
“This plaque couldn’t have happened without my coaches,” Roberts said. “When you have good coaches, good things happen.”
Eighteen Years of Commitment to Gateway
Roberts’ journey to this historic season has been anything but easy.
As one of Osceola County’s longest-serving high school football coaches, Roberts has experienced the challenges of building and sustaining a competitive program, including difficult seasons, changing rosters, and the ongoing responsibility of developing young athletes both on and off the football field.
His connection to Gateway extends beyond football. Having spent more than two decades teaching and coaching at the school, Roberts has helped shape the experiences of generations of students.
His loyalty to Gateway has remained a defining part of his coaching career. Through the highs and lows that come with high school athletics, Roberts has continued investing his time, energy, and experience in the program and the young men who wear the Panthers uniform.
That commitment made the accomplishments of the 2026 season particularly meaningful, not only for Roberts but for the entire Gateway community.
A Season That Changed Gateway Football History
Gateway entered the 2026 season determined to build on the previous year’s 5–6 finish. What followed was a campaign marked by improved performance, strong team chemistry, and a determination to compete.
The Panthers established themselves as one of Osceola County’s most successful teams of the season, recording shutout victories and delivering impressive performances on both sides of the football.
Their 42–0 victory over Cypress Creek in Week 10 set the stage for a memorable regular-season finale against Celebration.
On Friday night, playing in front of their home crowd, the Panthers delivered another dominant performance, securing the program’s first eight-win season and giving their longtime coach a milestone worth celebrating.
Among the players helping lead that historic effort was junior running back and wide receiver Nydrell Thigpen, whose powerful running and offensive production earned him Positively Osceola’s 2026 Osceola Air Player of the Year Award.
Thigpen was recognized alongside Roberts following the game, making the evening a celebration of individual achievement, team success, and Gateway Panther pride. And in true football tradition, the celebration wouldn’t have been complete without one final surprise for Roberts, as his players emptied the Gatorade jug over their longtime coach, soaking him in a moment of pure joy that seemed especially fitting after 18 years of dedication and a season that will forever be part of Gateway football history.
A Legacy That Goes Beyond the Scoreboard
While the 2026 season will be remembered for its place in the school record books, Roberts’ impact cannot be measured by victories alone.
High school football coaches serve as teachers, mentors, and role models, helping young athletes learn responsibility, teamwork, perseverance, and accountability. For Roberts, those responsibilities have been part of his daily commitment to Gateway for nearly two decades as head coach.
His influence also extends beyond the Panthers’ program. Other Osceola County coaches, including Poinciana head coach Taron Mallard, have publicly acknowledged Roberts for his mentorship and willingness to help fellow coaches grow.
That spirit of leadership was evident Friday night when Roberts chose to celebrate his assistant coaches and players rather than focus on his own recognition.
It was a fitting moment for a coach whose loyalty to his school and belief in his athletes have remained central to his career.
Recognizing Those Who Make a Positive Impact
Positively Osceola’s Osceola Air Coach of the Year Award recognizes the leadership, dedication, and positive impact of high school football coaches throughout Osceola County, celebrating individuals whose influence extends beyond the scoreboard and into the lives of the students and communities they serve.
For Roberts, the 2026 honor represents both a historic achievement and the culmination of years spent investing in Gateway’s football program.
As the Panthers celebrated their record-setting season, the recognition of Roberts and Thigpen offered a reminder that behind every successful football program are people who continue showing up, working hard, believing in one another, and striving to make their school and community proud.
For Marlin Roberts and the Gateway Panthers, 2026 was more than an eight-win season. It was a moment of school history built through years of dedication, perseverance, and Panther pride.
Positively Osceola congratulates Coach Marlin Roberts, 2026 Positively Osceola’s Osceola Air Coach of the Year, for his leadership, dedication, and continued commitment to making a positive impact on the field, in the classroom, and throughout the Gateway community. #WeAreGateway #PositivelyOsceolaSports
