When Walter Offutt was a player at Ohio University during the 2011-12 season, the Bobcats won the Mid-American Conference tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament with wins over Michigan and South Florida.
As he reflects on that team, Offutt remembers in the MAC quarterfinals when the University of Toledo, coached by Tod Kowalczyk, had the Bobcats down by two at halftime. If Ohio hadn’t pulled away for a 65-57 win, the history of that team could be much different.
For Offutt, who grew up in Indianapolis and considers himself a MAC guy through and through, he has come full circle as he has joined the Toledo program as an assistant coach.
Toledo announced today that Offutt will take a spot on Kowalczyk’s staff after Kyle Barlow took a job as an assistant with Ohio.
“I’ve always had respect for coach Kowalczyk and his program,” Offutt said. “He’s done really well since I played in the MAC and since I left the conference as well. I just want to come here and continue to build what they have built already. I want to add to that.”
Kowalczyk is familiar with Offutt from his playing days and is glad to now have him on staff at Toledo.
“Walter is a rising star and he will impact our program tremendously,” Kowalczyk said in a press release. “He is a tireless and effective recruiter, a defensive-minded coach and someone who will bring a great deal of toughness to our program.”
Offutt spent his last two seasons as an assistant at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he was part of Lamont Paris’ staff. During his two years, Chattanooga was in a rebuilding mode after a good two-year run under coach Matt McCall.
Offutt believes he can help Toledo in recruiting with his southern ties after developing connections with local high schools and AAU programs when he was at Chattanooga.
Most of all, though, Offutt is happy to get back to his MAC roots.
“That’s where I’m from,” Offutt said. “That’s the area I played in. I’m familiar with the coaches. I’m familiar with the players. It’s always been in the back of my mind to get back in the MAC at some point. I’m fortunate enough to do it with a great program in Toledo. Hopefully, we can get over that threshold and push our program forward by winning the MAC tournament.”
First Published April 24, 2019, 9:24 p.m.
