Gil Love

Coach 1944-1961 Gil Love was the legendary basketball coach at Ottawa High from 1944 to 1961. He also coached summer baseball at OTHS, served as athletic director and was instrumental in establishing the Ottawa Youth Football program. Gil Love coached basketball for 27 years, his last 18 at Ottawa. He had a 507-210 record. In his 18 years at Ottawa, the Pirates won 10 IHSA Regional titles, eight Sectional crowns and appeared in the Elite Eight three times (1953, 1957 and 1960). The 1956-57 team placed third in the IHSA State Tournament, which at the time followed a single class format. The 1959-60 team was ranked No. 1 in the state most of the year. Gil Love is a charter member of the Illinois Basketball Association Hall of Fame and a member of the Western Illinois University Hall of Fame. He taught science and physical education at OTHS, retiring in 1972. The auxiliary gym constructed adjacent to Kingman Gym in 1980 is named “Love Gym” in his honor and the main Kingman Gym scoreboard is dedicated to his memory. Gil Love passed away in 1992.