Ryan Nevins

Class of 1996 Ryan Nevins was a standout athlete at Ottawa Township High School, and later at the University of Missouri. He returned to Ottawa High to teach English and coach boys’ swimming, and then taught in Bigfork, Montana and Oswego, Illinois before returning to Ottawa High in 2007. Ryan Nevins was the captain of the 1995-96 Ottawa Township High School football team that finished the regular season undefeated, advancing to the IHSA Class 5A quarterfinals, and accumulating a school record 11 wins. He had 1,972 career rushing yards, placing him 4th in total rushing yards for school history, and 1,471 yards his senior year, placing him 2nd all time. He also scored 152 points his senior year, 2nd all time, and set an OTHS single game rushing record of 260 yards. He participated in the State swimming meet three times, placing 7th in the 100 backstroke in 1994, 8th in the 100 butterfly and 5th in the 100 backstroke in 1995, and 6th in the 100 butterfly and 7th in the 100 backstroke his senior year. In track, he was a sprinter on the 800 meter relay team that set a school record and qualified for State. Ryan Nevins went on to swim for the University of Missouri, lettering all 4 years. As a teacher he was passionate about teaching, loved stories and poetry and encouraged his students to be independent thinkers and creative writers. His classroom was a challenging yet supportive environment developing a passion for literature and establishing high expectations.