“Coach O.” is a name synonymous with Haverhill athletics. He distinguished himself as an athlete, coach and athletic director in a lifetime associated with Hillie sports. Ottaviani starred for the Hillie football teams, helping the 1955 squad to the EMass. Class A title. He played football at UMass Amherst, lettering twice, before embarking on his legendary coaching career. He took over a program in shambles (four straight winless seasons for the boys in winter track) and built the track program into one of the state’s best with a 221-40-4 record. Ottaviani, 78, was inducted into the Mass. Track Coaches Hall of Fame in 1985. He was an assistant football coach for 19 years and the city’s athletic director from 1982-96.
Inducted: 1985