Hillsdale's Keith Otterbein Named AFCA Super Region 3 "Coach of the Year"
Release courtesy of the Hillsdale College Sports Information Department
WACO, Texas - For the third time in his distinguished coaching career, Keith Otterbein has been recognized as the Regional Coach of the Year. The award was announced by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Wednesday morning.
Otterbein was one of five Division II coaches nationwide to earn
regional honors by the AFCA. It is the first time he's earned the
honor while coaching at Hillsdale, his alma mater.
Otterbein was previously named Regional Coach of the Year in 1992
and 1994 while coaching at Ferris State University. During those
final three seasons with the Bulldogs, he led the team to 32 wins
in 39 total games played.
With all his success, the 2009 season is certainly a high point in
Otterbein's coaching career. On Sept. 5, he won his 100th career
game as coach in Hillsdale's 37-35 home win over Michigan Tech. He
would guide the Chargers to their best season in more than 20
years, with a 10-3 final record. On Oct. 10, he coached the
Chargers to a 27-24 win over then-No. 1 Grand Valley State
University, ending the Lakers' five-year regular season winning
streak.
Hillsdale also qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs for the
first time in school history in 2009, and won its first playoff
game, 27-24 in overtime, over Minnesota State-Mankato.
The 2009 GLIAC Coach of the Year, Otterbein has a career record of
108-81-3 as head coach. His 48 wins with the Chargers make him the
fourth-winningest football coach in the 118-year history of
Hillsdale College football. Over the past three seasons,
Hillsdale's record of 25-10 is the second-best mark in the GLIAC.
