Calvin University

A 1990 Calvin College graduate, Bret Otte is no stranger to the Calvin program as he was a four-year letter winner on the Calvin men's track and field team from 1986-to-1989, competing as a sprinter on Calvin teams that won MIAA titles in 1987, 1988 and 1989. He later served as an assistant coach with the Calvin men's and women's track and field teams in 1995 and 1996 while earning his master's degree in physical education from Central Michigan University. Otte worked closely with Calvin's sprinters and hurdlers and helped Holly Breuker win a national title in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1996 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Otte is also no stranger to West Michigan as he hails from Grandville and is a graduate of Grandville Calvin Christian High School where he was a varsity letter winner in football and in track and field.

Otte's coaching expertise has been honed from learning from coaches from around the world. After graduating from Calvin, Otte and his wife Lorraine moved to Ontario where he taught and coached at Beacon Christian High School. While there, he earned a Level III Coaching License in track and field from the Canadian National Institute of Sport. While living near Toronto, Otte was able to learn from several international coaches who had centered themselves in Canada. "After the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, there were many international coaches that chose to remain in Canada and live in Toronto," said Otte. "I took advantage of the opportunity to learn as much as I could from them while I was there.

That (Toronto) experience helped spur me on to become a collegiate track and field coach."

After receiving his Master's Degree from Central Michigan in 1995, Otte accepted an assistant coaching position with the Central Michigan women's track and field program. He later served as an assistant track and field coach at Illinois State before accepting the head cross country and track and field positions at Geneva College in 1998.

At Geneva, Otte took over cross country and track and field programs that were thin in roster size and built them up to highly competitive levels. His women's cross country teams were twice ranked in the NAIA top-25 and he sent numerous distance runners to the NAIA Cross Country Championships. Otte also sent numerous Geneva track and field athletes on to the NAIA Championships. In 2003, he led the Geneva women's track and field team to its first American Mideast Conference title. He then led Geneva in its transition to becoming an NCAA Division III institution and as a member of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC).

In his 12 years as head track and field coach, Otte has led the Calvin women's team to eight MIAA outdoor titles and a pair of MIAA indoor crowns. He has led the Calvin men to nine MIAA outdoor titles and four MIAA indoor titles. He has led the Calvin men's team to four outdoor NCAA Top-20 finishes and the Calvin women's team to three Top-20 indoor national finishes and a fifth-place NCAA Outdoor Track and Field finish in 2010.

Otte and his wife Lorraine a 1990 Calvin College graduate, are the parents of four children. They now reside in Grand Rapids.

• 1990 Calvin Graduate with a degree in Physical Education Degree with minors in Science and History.

• Central Michigan graduate – Masters Degree in Physical Education with Coaching emphasis.

• Served as an athletic director, middle school and high school teacher.

• Started coaching Track & Field in 1990 at Forest Hills Central.

• Coaching in a variety of places, Division I and NAIA schools.

• Blessed with experiences coaching National and International level athletes at all his various stops.

• Has coached every event in Track and Field.

• Coached college men’s and women’s cross country for 10 years.

• Personal facts

o Outdoor activities

o Married with four children

o Member of First Church CRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan

o Hobbies and Interests

o Wilderness pursuits

o Woodworking

o Working on a 100-year old house

o Fixing old cars and boats.

o Reading and watching old and new shows on the BBC.

o Listening classic rock and newer musical artists that can bring it home vintage style.