Wisconsin Football Coaches Association

PHIL OTTNEY
Inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 2006

Phil's teaching and coaching career began at the School District of Glenwood City. He has taught Physical Education in grades K-12, and has coached many sports. He was an assistant coach in football (1981­1985) under Brad Nemec, serving as defensive coordinator in the 1985 Division VI championship game won by Glenwood City. He credits Nemec's tutelage as a key in developing his coaching philosophy of teaching life's lessons through football. Phil's coaching philosophy is, "It's not what your players can do for your program, it's what your program can do for your players."

Phil was the head wrestling coach at Glenwood City for 15 seasons, (1981-1995), and compiled a dual meet record of 101-75-3. He guided the Hilltoppers to conference championships in 1982, 1983, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1995. His teams were regional champions in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1990 and 1994. He has coached 14 state place-winners and has coached the only three state wrestling champions in the school's history.

He was also the assistant baseball coach from 1981-1984, head softball coach from 1995-1997, and junior high wrestling coach from 1996-2005.

Phil was selected as Glenwood City's head football coach in 1986. His record is currently 134-72. His teams won conference championships in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2005, while making playoff appearances in 1987, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2005, They advanced as far as the state quarterfinals in 1987, 1994, 1996 and 2005, and were state semifinalists in 1998 and 2000. In 1997, the Hilltoppers completed a perfect 14-0 season with a 36-14 win over Waterloo, which crowned them as the 1997 Division 5 State Champions, The 1997 team was ranked #1 in the State of Wisconsin (schools 400 and under), by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper. During the 1997-1998 span, his teams enjoyed a 26 game winning streak.

Phil's football teams have annually visited the Shriners Hospital in Minneapolis since 1986. He was selected to the Shrine Football All-Star North coaching staff in 1995, serving as an assistant to Dan Pedersen of Elk Mound (North squad won 13-6). In 2001, he was selected as the head coach of the 2001 Shrine Football North All-Star team, winning 19-0.

He has been active in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) as an active member since 1981. He served as a WFCA District VII Representative (1996-2002), and was selected as the WFCA President-elect (2002-2003). He then served as the president of the WFCA from 2003-2005. He considers his WFCA membership and his service as a district representative and president an honor and a privilege.

Phil was selected as the District VII Coach of the Year (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2005). In 2005, he humbly accepted the Green Bay Packers coach of the week award, and was also selected as the 2005 Green Bay Packer/WFCA co-coach of the year.

Phil gives a great deal of credit for his successful career to the assistant coaches and players that have dedicated their time and energy into Glenwood City football.