The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

(OTTUMWA SCHOOL DISTRICT)--Ottumwa’s new head football coach was introduced to local media on Thursday at the stadium he’ll soon call home.

Zach Pfantz (pronounced fonz) will officially take over the football program this summer. Pfantz is currently an assistant coach, co-defensive coordinator, and recruiting coordinator at Central College. Highlights during his three years at Central include: finished 10-1 in 2009; led the conference in nearly every defensive statistical category in 2010; had one of the top defenses in the country out of 236 Division III teams in 2010; and finished the season ranked ninth in the country in run defense and 12^th in sacks in 2011.

"I am extremely excited to be the new head football coach at Ottumwa High School,” said Pfantz. “My goal is that every Ottumwa boy wants to grow up and play football for the Bulldogs.” He is also excited about the tradition of football in a one school town and the “incredible amount of support” he has seen so far.

Prior to Central, he spent a year coaching high school football for the Akron-Westfield Westerners. He took over a team with a 21 game losing streak (the second longest in the state of Iowa at the time). He finished the season with a 5-4 record, missing the playoffs by 1 game and was named Coach of the Year in Class 1A. He had nine players selected to the all-district team and his quarterback was named All-State and District Offensive MVP in his first year as a starter.

He was also the assistant football coach and assistant strength and conditioning coordinator for Coe College for three years. Coe was consistently ranked in the national top 25 and advanced to the NCAA national playoffs in his second year.

At the professional level, he was the defensive coordinator during the summer of 2006 for the Cedar Valley Vikings. The team finished 5-4 and advanced to the playoffs after finishing 0-9 the previous season.

Pfantz graduated from West Marshall High School where he played football. He has a Bachelors degree in Physical Education and his Masters in Education. He will be teaching full-time in the district’s physical education department.

What can fans expect to see next fall? “A tough and physical team that represents their community well,” said Pfantz.

“If someone were to ask me what I like about him, my answer would be ‘everything,’” said Tom Kopatich, Ottumwa’s athletic director and former head football coach. “He is an outstanding young person and an outstanding young coach who has been in some very successful programs. He has been around winning and knows how to win. I think the kids will like him and play hard for him.”

Principal Mark Hanson sees the new coach as someone students will admire. “Ottumwa landed someone who will be a great role model for our kids on and off the field.”

“Zach is from three tradition-rich programs,” said Superintendent Davis Eidahl. “He is a proven winner on the field and as a coach but more importantly, he’s a person with strong values that align with our district.”