Oberlin College

Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College athletics family as well as the entire College community would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of former athletic director and coach Joe Gurtis, who passed away on July 15.

Gurtis, who worked at the College from 1965-1989, served the athletics department in a variety of ways. In addition to working as the athletics director for male sports (1975-1988),  Gurtis coached men’s lacrosse (1975-76), wrestling (1965-72, 1973-1977), track and field (1979-1989) and baseball (1969). He became a tenured facility member in 1971 as a professor of physical education in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Before he retired, he was instrumental in helping form the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) – the conference that Oberlin still competes in to this day.

Gurtis was a two-year letterwinner in football (1948-49) at the University of North Carolina, playing in both the Cotton Bowl and Sugar Bowl during his time with the Tarheels. One his teammates was former Cleveland Browns Head Coach Bud Carson.

Gurtis leaves behind his four children; Walter, Mary Jo, Bill and John as well as several grandkids. He was 84.