Donald “Don” Jobst

Class of 1944 Donald (Don) Jobst competed as an athlete in football, basketball, and track while at Ottawa Township High School. After graduation he attended Northern Illinois University, competing there in track. Returning to Ottawa as a teacher, coach, and athletic director, he established an extraordinary career at Central and Shepherd junior high schools. He was inducted in 1989 into the Starved Rock Conference Hall of Fame by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association for his basketball coaching, compiling over a 26 season career, 418 wins against 144 losses (74%), 16 conference championships, 14 consecutive years of conference championships (1958-69), 6 conference tournament title games in a row (1960-66), a 179 and 29 record during the period 1952-61 (86%), and a 51 and 1 record over two seasons, 1959-61. The Ottawa Elementary School District #141 dedicated the Central Intermediate School gymnasium floor in his name.