Arnie Otterbeck still playing for Kitsap Bears

He doesn’t have the NFL background or All-American accolades that dominated Ed Fisher’s 23-year tenure as coach at South Kitsap High School.

But unlike those players, Arnie Otterbeck still is playing.

The 1997 South graduate, who teaches science at John Sedgwick Junior High, said he decided to play a final season for the Kitsap Bears, an expansion football team based out of Kingston that plays in the North American Football League.

“You can count on him in a pinch for everything,” Kitsap coach Dave Snyder said. “He makes a difference on the team and with the players. You can’t say enough about him.”

Otterbeck, 29, saw the Wolves win the 1994 state championship and the quarterfinals the following year before they advanced to the semifinals as a senior in Fisher’s last year at South. The Wolves had a 35-2 record in Otterbeck’s three years at the school.

“I had a tremendous opportunity to play under a great coach — a Hall of Fame coach,” Otterbeck said.

At 5 foot 10 and 230 pounds, Otterbeck was too small to play offensive or defensive line — his main positions at South — for a major university. And he wasn’t strong enough academically to qualify at some of the lower-division schools. Instead, Otterbeck said he took a few years off to mature and eventually walked on at Eastern Washington University and transferred to Whitworth University in Spokane.

Otterbeck credited some of the friends he met with the West Sound Orcas (now Saints) when he played for the team during its inaugural season in 2000 in getting him to pursue a college degree. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Whitworth in 2004 and a master’s in education last year.

“It’s a pleasure to come back here, teach in the community and be a part of something,” he said. “This is a great place.”

Fisher routinely told his players that football is a microcosm of life, and Otterbeck firmly believes that after his experiences.

“It’s a great opportunity for men to grow in different areas,” he said. “To really apply that to the lives of men is exciting.”

Otterbeck, who plays outside linebacker for the Bears, is more than just a member of the team, though. He also serves as the general manager.

Unlike professional sports, where the primary job description for that role is roster building, Otterbeck focuses more on game-day operations. He recruits family members and others to run the ticket office and security.

“Just as a friend, I’m here to act in support,” said Otterbeck, referring to Bears owner and former North Kitsap High defensive end Don Purser. “Minor-league football is a grass-roots approach. You have to be out there in the community and let people know who you are. Ninety-nine percent of the time, people don’t know who you are or that you’re out there in the community.”

The Bears haven’t started well on the field. Their record fell to 1-3 after a 45-15 loss Saturday against the East County Blackshirts at Silverdale Stadium. Otterbeck said he would like to be more successful, but is excited about the community response.

“Seeing all the people in the stands was really encouraging,” he said. “It’s a great thing for kids to come out here and watch their parents, uncles or brothers. It’s cool and exciting.”

Even though Otterbeck doesn’t plan to play beyond this season, he won’t leave the sidelines. He’s an assistant coach at Sedgwick and contemplated applying for the opening on D.J. Sigurdson’s staff at South.

“I just felt at this moment it wasn’t the best opportunity because we have a great thing going on at John Sedgwick,” Otterbeck said. “For me, I just feel very close to my kids and I’m excited about the upcoming season.”

Otterbeck said the thought of coaching under Sigurdson is an appealing prospect.

“It would be exciting,” Otterbeck said. “Coaching at a (Class) 4A school, especially my alma mater, would be an enjoyable experience.”