June Gross

Teacher/Coach 1956-1990 June Gross taught health and driver’s education at Ottawa High from 1956 to 1990. He coached several sports at v a rious levels at OTHS including baseball, basketball, track, and football. He is best known for being a track assistant coach specializing in the “jumps” events. He coached four IHSA State Pole Vaulting Champions – Denny Brue in 1970, Rusty Wells in 1971, Jay Hearn in 1983, and Greg Fenza in 1988. Greg Fenza later become national champion. June Gross, who still coaches the pole vaulters at OTHS, had a string of 31 consecutive years of vaulters qualifying for the IHSA State Tournament. He is a member of the Illinois State Track Coaches Hall of Fame. Besides his commitment to Ottawa High, June Gross was involved with the creation of the Ottawa City Recreation softball and basketball programs in the 1950s. He was associated with those programs for nearly 50 years heading the programs for many of those years. The south softball diamond at Ottawa’s Lincoln-Douglas Park was named “June Gross Field” in his honor several years ago. He also a baseball and softball umpire and a basketball referee for many years.