OJC coaching veteran and Athletic Director Gary Addington is no stranger to Otero Junior College Athletics. In 1997, Addington was chosen to help build and coach the first Otero Junior College Rattler softball team. Winning the Region IX softball title in the spring of 1998, the opportunity to take over the reins of the baseball program presented itself, and Addington moved to a larger diamond that fall.
“I truly believe in our philosophy here at OJC and that is to see that players grow as students and people first, that student’s classroom work must come before athletics, and see that the student-athletes have a positive college athletic experience. That is what all colleges should be promoting and I am excited to be a part of OJC, which does.”
In his 9 years of coaching at Otero, Addington has seen eight former players earn an opportunity to play professional baseball. He has placed 71 players at four year universities to continue their playing career, 48 players have been named to the All-Region IX team and three of them were also named to the NJCAA All-American Team. Coach Addington has earned the Region IX Coach of the Year award two times and has also been named the Diamond Sports ABCA Regional Coach of the Year for NJCAA Division I in 2001. Five times his teams have been given the NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year Awards. Twelve players have also received Academic All-American awards with two of them being Distinguished Academic All-American awards in addition to acquiring five 30+ win seasons. “I enjoyed my coaching tenure at OJC and have had many great years. The time I spent coaching has given me so many unbelievable memories and awarded me the opportunity to meet some amazing people. I have always said, I can’t remember all the games we won or lost, but I will never forget the people that played for me and the sacrifices they made for the success of the team. In my position of Athletic Director I would hope to use my knowledge and experience in college athletics to help our coaches in the day to day operation of each program and be a person they will come to and count on for sound advice and direction.”
Gary Addington is a product of the Otero Junior College baseball program, playing for the Rattlers in 1990 and 1991. He then finished his career at Colorado State University, where he earned his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Mathematics, with and emphasis in Education. He then completed his Master’s Degree in Human Performance and Physical Education with an emphasis in Coaching from Adams State College.
Addington has been married to wife Kelly for 16 years. They have three beautiful children Lauren, age 13; Tyler, age 11; and five year old daughter Reece.
