Portage High School will host a special dedication ceremony to honor legendary Coach Les Klein by officially naming its football field Les Klein Field.
This celebration will take place during halftime of the Portage Indians’ home game against the Valparaiso Vikings on Friday, October 10, 2025. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Prior to the game, the community is invited to a Meet and Greet with Coach Klein at 5:30 PM in the Portage High School Cafeteria. Light refreshments will be available during the meet and greet. All those whose lives or careers have been influenced by Coach Klein are especially encouraged to attend.
Coach Klein arrived at Portage in the summer of 1970 and, over the next 19 seasons, transformed a struggling program into one of Northwest Indiana’s most respected football powers. He coached in excess of 550 players and made an impact on many of his players. They have since gone on to a variety of endeavors in many different fields, including every blue collar trade in NWI, steel workers, educators, coaches, lawyers, accountants, policemen, firemen, EMTs, state troopers, postal workers, long haul truck drivers, business owners, pastors, Orthodox priest, IT executives, retired military officers and many other careers. He won a school-record 115 games, led the Indians to their only state championship in 1977 and a semifinal appearance in 1974, and captured two Duneland Conference titles.
Under his leadership, Portage produced over 30 All-State players, sent 12 athletes to the North-South All-Star Game, and saw three former players and six assistant coaches go on to Hall of Fame careers. His influence on players, coaches, and the community firmly established Portage football’s place on the map.