Keith Otterbein, head coach of Hillsdale’s football team, is the sort of person around whom anyone can feel comfortable.
He drops the “g”s at the end of his verbs, wears a tracksuit, and puts his feet up on his desk. Otterbein is passionate about two things: the football team and Hillsdale College.
In 1975, Otterbein did not plan to attend Hillsdale.
“I pretty much had already decided to walk on in Eastern Michigan. They were the hot ticket,” he said.
Late into the year a friend of Otterbein’s family, who had attended Hillsdale, thought he should look at the college before choosing Eastern. After a one day visit and and a scholarship offer, Otterbein decided to attend Hillsdale and play football.
“I felt comfortable with the environment,” he said. “I felt that I could excel academically and athletically.”
On the field, Otterbein enjoyed his football experience. One benefit that his athletes have now that he did not is technology. As a player, Otterbein said he would have benefitted from seeing himself play.
Other than football, while at Hillsdale, Otterbein was involved in The Fellowship of Christian athletes, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and Omicron Delta Kappa, a leadership honorary.
“There was a good balance of academics, athletics, and social life,” he said.
In the 1970s, Greek life was more focused on the social aspect of college, Otterbein said. During this time, the drinking age for Michigan was 18, which meant that all college student could drink legally.
“Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night there were big parties. I don’t know how many kegs we went through while I was in school,” Otterbein said.
Otterbein has a hard time keeping contact with college friends. But fortunately “being here I don’t have to do a great job keeping in touch. They come back!” he said.
Most of the professors that Otterbein studied under have now left.
“The Mark Watsons and John Wilsons have slowly dwindled down over the last 10 years,” he said.
After graduation, Otterbein remained at Hillsdale coaching part time and working full-time as a fundraiser.
“When I was fundraising, I wanted to be on the field,” he said.
After two years Otterbein left Hillsdale to coach at Eastern Michigan State University as a graduate assistant coach. Following this, Otterbein became the defensive coordinator at Ferris State University. Here, at 28 he became the youngest head coach in America. Ottebein changed Ferris State from a lackluster program to a successful, winning team.
While coaching at Ferris State, Otterbein heard that Hillsdale had an opening for head football coach. His friends and family knew Hillsdale was where he belonged. After an interview, Otterbein returned to his alma mater in 2001.
Otterbein noticed many differences in Hillsdale when he returned.
“There is a different atmosphere socially,” he said. “There is a standard of how a Hillsdale student acts and how he treats other people.”
He also noticed that Hillsdale has a clearer vision of what it is as an institution. Hillsdale is more focused about what it teaches students: the greater truth, to be people of integrity and honesty, and to have a strong work ethic, he said.
Otterbein, though, recognizes that his favorite aspects have remained the same.
“People are open and friendly, and that the community reaches out to people of different backgrounds,” he said.
The athletic department has grown under Otterbein. He attributes the success to an increase in the number of staff and more motivated and serious students.
“We have become a flagship institution in academics and athletics,” Otterbein said. “We maintain a very high athletic experience without sacrificing academics.”
Otterbein has coached both his sons on the football team and at the same time his daughter was a trainer. Under him, the football team has gone to the playoffs and was the conference champion for the first time in 23 years.
“Beating Grand Valley has been fun,” he said with a chuckle.
Developing the football program and knowing that he has helped in re-establishing a winning tradition has been Otterbein’s most rewarding experience.
Otterbein said he is not going anywhere.
“I feel called to be here,” he said. I want to sustain the success that we have built.”
eepperson@hillsdale.edu
