HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University community is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Gabriel Stainback, who tragically passed on September 13, 2025. Stainback was a 2021 graduate of High Point and was a member of the track and field team during his four years. He was 26 years old.
 
"This is sad, sad, news to our coaching staff and program," Coach Dr. Scott Hall, who was Stainback's combined events coach, commented. "He was always a bright light in the room, had so much enthusiasm, and was an all-around great teammate. He was well-respected by coaches, teammates and competitors. It's a sad situation to a wonderful person who's life was cut short. I consider myself fortunate to have coached him and to have known him in my life. I feel immensely for what his family is going through right now."
 
A native of Concord, N.C., Stainback recently had been sworn into the Cornelius Police Department in December 2024 after being hired as a cadet and going through the Basic Law Enforcement Training program.
 
While at High Point, Stainback had an outstanding career as a combined events athlete on the men's track and field team and helped lead the Panthers to their first-ever Big South Conference Outdoor Championship title in 2021.
 
Over the course of his career, he was crowned a three-time Big South Decathlon Champion from 2018-2021 (*2020 did not have a Championship due to Covid-19) and was named to the All-Conference team seven times. His personal-best 6,904 points in the decathlon at the 2021 Bill Webb Combined Events ranks third all-time in HPU program history. In the heptathlon, his personal-best 5,134 points at the Big South Championships in 2020 sits in the Big South All-Time Top 10 performances and ranks third in HPU's record book. Following his time at High Point, Stainback was named to the Big South 2010-2019 All-Decade Team.
 
"It's so sad," Head Coach Mike Esposito stated. "Gabe was such an amazing young man who came from an amazing family. He was one of our all-time favorite student-athletes and he is going to be missed dearly."
 
Prior to joining the High Point family, Stainback was a 2017 graduate of Concord High School and competed on the track and field team. During his senior season, he was crowned the 2017 North Carolina outdoor state champion in the high jump. He was a two-time South Piedmont Field Athlete of the Year and earned the indoor track state MVP award in 2017.

The visitation will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at Hartsell Funeral Home in Concord, N.C from 6-9 p.m. The funeral will be on Friday, September 19, 2025 at Bethel Baptist Church Ministries in Kannapolis, N.C., beginning at 1 p.m.