Robert Otolski (born August 22, 1937) is a former American football coach. He was the 17th head football coach Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, serving for seven seasons, from 1981 to 1987, and compiling a record of 30–41–3. [1]

Bob Otolski
Biographical details
Born (1937-08-22) August 22, 1937 (age 87)
South Bend, Indiana
Playing career
1957–1959Indianapolis
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1966–1972Marian HS (IN)
1973Ben Davis HS (IN)
1973–1980Indiana (ST)
1981–1987Illinois State
Head coaching record
Overall30–41–3 (college)
59–10–1 (high school)

Playing career

edit

Otolski attended Washington High School in South Bend, Indiana. There he was a standout member of the football team playing both offense and defense. He was an instrumental part of the 1953 State Championship team. After he graduated in 1955, he accepted a scholarship to play football at the University of Indianapolis. While there he lettered three times for the Greyhounds, playing offense, defense and special teams. In 1957 he led team in pass receptions and receiving yards as well as leading the conference in punting while being named 2nd Team All-conference in 1957. In 1958 he led the conference in quarterback sacks, and again in punting and named 2nd Team All-Conference. He also was a member of the Indianapolis golf team, which won two conference titles while he was there.[2]

Coaching career

edit

Otolski began coaching football in 1961 at St. Joseph's High School in his hometown of South Bend, where he was the head coach of the junior varsity team. In 1964 he became the athletic director at Marian High School in Mishawaka, Indiana. In 1966 he started the school's first ever football team leading them to a 6–6 record. In 1971 he was named the Indiana High School Coach of the Year. He went on to coach till 1972, compiling a 59–10–1 record leading the team to three undefeated seasons. He also won four Northern Indiana Valley Conference titles.[3] After the 1972 season, he became the head coach at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, but he never coached a game there resigning and joining the Indiana University football staff, where he worked seven seasons as an assistant to Lee Corso. During his time at Indiana, they went on to win the first bowl game in school history, the 1979 Holiday Bowl. In 1981 he was hired as the head football coach at Illinois State University. He went on to be the coach til 1987 and compiled a 30–41–3 record.

Honors

edit

In 2000, Marian was inducted into the Marian Hall of Fame. In 2001, he was inducted into the University of Indianapolis Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2002, Marian named their football field, "Bob Otolski Field" after Bob.[4]

Head coaching record

edit

College

edit
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Illinois State Redbirds (Missouri Valley Conference) (1981–1985)
1981 Illinois State 3–7 0–5 8th
1982 Illinois State 2–9 0–5 8th
1983 Illinois State 6–4–1 2–2–1 T–5th
1984 Illinois State 5–6 3–2 3rd
1985 Illinois State 6–3–2 3–1–1 T–2nd
Illinois State Redbirds (Gateway Football Conference) (1986–1987)
1986 Illinois State 5–5 3–3 4th
1987 Illinois State 3–7 0–6 7th
Illinois State: 30–41–3 11–24–2
Total: 30–41–3

References

edit
  1. ^ Illinois State Coaching Records Archived November 26, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "University of Indianapolis Athletics - Hall of Fame Members". Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  3. ^ "Mishawaka Marian Knights Football". ifca.zebras.net. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  4. ^ "Bob Otolski". indiana-football.org. Retrieved October 31, 2011.