Jim Sutherland

Teacher/Coach Jim Sutherland taught and coached at Ottawa High for 34 years, from his first arrival in 1952 until his retirement in 1987. He taught mathematics, sociology, and psychology at OTHS. During his tenure he coached six different sports at Ottawa: football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, track, and tennis. He coached football at the freshman level during the “Novak era,” in basketball at the sophomore level under Gil Love, and as a Varsity assistant to Dean Riley, in baseball he assisted Gil Love until taking over as Varsity coach in 1968 until 1986, assisted in track and tennis during the 1950’s, and was a wrestling assistant in his later years at Ottawa. He also worked for the City of Ottawa Recreation Department for 32 years, with a special interest in the City Recreation T-Ball program, which is now named in his honor. The Ottawa High School mascot “Sudsy” is also named in memory of Jim Sutherland.