Bob Otolski
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Otolski was the 17th head football coach for the Illinois State Redbirds
in Normal, Illinois
and he held that position for seven seasons, from 1981 until 1987.
His overall coaching record at ISU was 30 wins, 41 losses, and 3 ties. This ranks him
sixth at ISU in terms of total wins and 13th at ISU in terms of winning percentage.
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 3 times for the Grayhounds, playing offense, defense and special teams. In 1951 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.
. In 1966 he started the schools 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 3 undefeated seasons. He also won 4 Northern Indiana Valley Conference
titles. After the 1972 season, he joined the Indiana University
football staff, where he worked 7 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 as hired as the head football coach at Illinois State University
. He went on to be the coach til 1987 and complied a 30-41-3 record.
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.
Illinois State Redbirds
The Illinois State Redbirds are the athletic teams that represent Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Teams play at the NCAA Division I level . The football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while most other teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference...
in Normal, Illinois
Normal, Illinois
Normal is an incorporated town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It had a population of 52,497 as of the 2010 census. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
and he held that position for seven seasons, from 1981 until 1987.
His overall coaching record at ISU was 30 wins, 41 losses, and 3 ties. This ranks him
sixth at ISU in terms of total wins and 13th at ISU in terms of winning percentage.
Playing career
Otolski attended Washington High SchoolWashington High School (South Bend, Indiana)
Washington High School is a public high school located at 4747 W. Washington on the West Side of South Bend, Indiana. It is part of the SBCSC magnet program, where it is the Medical/Allied Health Magnet Program.-History:...
in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
. 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
University of Indianapolis
The University of Indianapolis is a university located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The shortened name it uses is UIndy...
. While there he lettered 3 times for the Grayhounds, playing offense, defense and special teams. In 1951 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.
Coaching career
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 athletics director at Marian High School in Mishawaka, IndianaMishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka is a city on the St. Joseph River and a Twin city of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. The population was 48,252 as of the 2010 Census...
. In 1966 he started the schools 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 3 undefeated seasons. He also won 4 Northern Indiana Valley Conference
Northern Indiana Valley Conference
-About:The Northern Indiana Valley Conference was a High School League from 1967 to 1973, located in the South Bend/Mishawaka metropolitan area.-Former members:-Conference Champions :*1967 - Mishawaka Marian...
titles. After the 1972 season, he joined the Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
football staff, where he worked 7 seasons as an assistant to Lee Corso
Lee Corso
Leland "Lee" Corso is a sports broadcaster and football analyst for ESPN. He has been featured on ESPN's College GameDay program since its inception and he appeared annually as a commentator in EA Sports' NCAA Football through NCAA Football 11...
. During his time at Indiana, they went on to win the first bowl game in school history, the 1979 Holiday Bowl
1979 Holiday Bowl
The 1979 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 21, 1979 in San Diego, California. It was part of the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. It featured the Indiana Hoosiers against the BYU Cougars...
. In 1981 he as hired as the head football coach at Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
. He went on to be the coach til 1987 and complied a 30-41-3 record.
Honors
In 2000, he 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.