About us
We are the Hunstville Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame.
Contact Info
POBOX 566
Hunstville, Al 35804
We are the Hunstville Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame.
POBOX 566
Hunstville, Al 35804
Gary Ottens father was an Army Sergeant and was stationed in Germany when Gary was born. Gary said that being the son of an army sergeant, he learned discipline and hard work early in life. Gary moved to the Huntsville area when he was only three years old and first started playing football at the age of eight at Oak Park. He was an All-City running back for the Civic Midgets. Gary went on to say that his father would have to have his birth certificate at the games to show the parents that he was the right age because he was so big. Gary attended Lee High School from 1978 until 1982. During the time he was at Lee, he played football, basketball, baseball and track and lettered in all four. Coach Glen Nunley and Coach Jerry Bradley moved him from tackle to center for his senior year because they said that Coach Bryant was looking to sign some bigger centers that year. This turned out to be a great move and Gary and the Lee Generals had a great season. Lee won the City Championship and Gary was selected to the All-City team, the All-State team and as a member of the AHSAA All-Star Football Classic. Gary was also selected as Captain of the team. After graduation, Gary signed a football scholarship with the University of Alabama and Coach Paul Bear Bryant. He was red shirted his freshman year and missed his entire junior season because of knee surgery but still was able to play in 31 games of which he started 19 for Coach Ray Perkins. After graduation from Alabama, Gary stayed on as a graduate assistant for two years under Coach Bill Curry. After coaching at Alabama, Gary moved to the University of West Georgia and coached the Offensive Line for nine years. In 1998, he became the Offensive Coordinator and held that title for three years. During this time, the University of West Georgia won two Gulf South Conference Championships and set 10 school offensive records. In 2001, Gary was named as the Head Coach at West Georgia. After his team won eight games and only lost three, Gary decided to quit coaching and move back to Huntsville to pursue a career in sales.
