Coach Melvyn Ottinger and the legacy of the Dalton State Roadrunners will be honored between games two and three of the Dalton State volleyball team’s home match versus Brewton-Parker on Sept. 5, at Bandy Gymnasium. The match begins at 7 p.m. on the campus of Dalton State.
Coach “O” was the first and only basketball coach at then, Dalton Junior College. He led the team to national prominence during his ten year stint compiling a career record of 228 wins and 78 losses. Coach “O” has called Dalton home ever since retiring from the faculty at Dalton State. He was not only a great coach, but a great citizen and advocate for athletics in the community.
The floor at Bandy Gymnasium received a major overhaul last year through the generosity of The John Willis Mashburn Trust, Dalton Utilities, First Bank of Dalton, Randy Beckler, Julian and Anita Saul, the Dalton State Foundation and numerous former Roadrunner players and cheerleaders who gave in honor of Coach Ottinger.
T-shirts commemorating the event will be handed out to the first 175 people through the door and the official ribbon cutting and remarks will come during a break in the volleyball match. Fans of the Roadrunners and Coach Ottinger are reminded to be there early for all of the excitement of Dalton State volleyball.
“We are blessed to have the private support to be able to upgrade athletic facilities on campus,” said Athletic Director Derek Waugh. “The new floor at Bandy Gymnasium looks fantastic, our volleyball team should be very good this year and we are honoring a man who put a lot of sweat equity into this institution. It should be a great night.”