Dan was a leader, coach, and teacher, on the playing fields, in the classroom, and in the community.
Dan graduated from SUNY Cortland with his BS in K-12 Physical Education, and earned his Masters of Science in Physical Education from Canisius College.
Joining the faculty of his alma mater in 1996, he preached "confidence, not cockiness" in making the Hornets a dynastic force on the baseball diamond. His teams won 12 Genesee Region League baseball titles, and Section V championships in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2009. In each of those sectional title years, he was also honored as Section V Coach of the Year.
When Hornet softball needed a coach in 2011, Dan stepped up and led that team to a sectional title, and was honored as Genesee Region Coach of the Year.
Dan amassed a 284-58 record coaching baseball, softball, JV and varsity football, and modified basketball.
At Oakfield, he taught health and physical education, creating and shaping the district's Adaptive PE program for students with special needs.
In the community he coached Little League baseball and youth football.
Dan's memory lives on in his players, students, wife, and children, and in Dan Gilbert Field, the OACS baseball diamond.