Steve Otterbein
Steve Otterbein
  • Title:
    Defensive Coordinator, Cornerbacks Coach
  • Phone:
    (517) 607-3145
  • Email:
    sotterbein@hillsdale.edu
  • Tenure:
    15th season at Hillsdale
  • Recruiting Territories:
    Northeast Ohio

Bio

Entering the fall of 2023, Steve Otterbein begins his 14th season as a coach for the Hillsdale College football program, and his second season as the Chargers' defensive coordinator. After spending the 2021 season calling the plays for Hillsdale's defense, Otterbein took on the mantle of defensive coordinator permanently in 2022, and has continued build on a proud tradition of Charger success on that side of the ball.

Otterbein is well suited to the position of defensive coordinator, having spent the several seasons on the defensive side of the ball coaching the team's cornerbacks, while also serving as Hillsdale's special teams coordinator. That experience, coupled with his time as a defensive back playing for the Chargers from 2003 to 2007, give him a deep understanding of the Hillsdale College football program, the system it runs defensively and the type of hard-nosed, high-intensity football the Charger D has become known for with over the years. 

After playing for the Chargers, he spent three seasons as a graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan University before returning to Hillsdale College as the wide receivers coach in 2010. In 2017, he moved to the defensive side of the ball, taking over as the team's cornerbacks coach and special teams coordinator. 

Perhaps a forgotten unit on other teams, special teams has played a critical role in the Chargers' success under head coach Keith Otterbein, and Hillsdale has placed a special teamer on the All-G-MAC squad in each of the past four seasons under Steve's guidance.

Football at Hillsdale has been a family affair for Steve, who played under the elder Otterbein, his father, for four seasons, and over the last 13 years with the program has coached under his father and alongside his brother, Brad Otterbein, who serves as the team's quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator.

As a kid, Steve grew up playing multiple sports, but gravitated towards football when his father got an assistant coaching job at Ball State in Muncie, Indiana. He played high school football at nearby Delta High, and during four years with the Eagles, Otterbein helped Delta win back-to-back regional titles and reach the 2001 Class 4A state title game, the Eagles' only IHSAA state final appearance in program history.

The following year, Keith Otterbein took over as the head football coach at Hillsdale College, and following his high school graduation, Steve chose to become a Charger as well.

Over four years as a defensive back at Hillsdale from 2003-07, Steve developed a reputation as a special teams ace, appearing in 37 games and finishing his career with 51 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.

Otterbein is also responsible for recruiting Northeast Ohio for the Chargers. He lives in Hillsdale with his wife Lisa, and two children, Tyson and Lucy.