By Paul Helgren, Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Communications
TOLEDO, Ohio – When the Toledo Football team hosts its home opener at the Glass Bowl on Sept. 1, it will be the be the start of a new season, but also the end of an era.
Deputy Athletic Director
Dave Nottke, who has been a part of the Toledo Athletic Department for the past 33 years, is retiring on Sept. 1, the same day the Rockets open the 2022 season vs. LIU. He began as a student manager on the men's basketball team in 1989, and eventually worked his way up to the No. 2 position in the Athletic Department.
Nottke said he plans to be at the opening game, sitting in the stands like any other Rocket fan.
"It will be different," said Nottke. "I don't think I've ever had a ticket to a UT event in the past 33 years. It's interesting that my first day of retirement is the day of our home opener. I've always wondered what it's like to tailgate at a Rocket game."
While Nottke is retiring from his position with the Rockets, he doesn't plan on slowing down. He will begin a second career in new and used auto sales with Grogan's Towne Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Toledo.
"It will be nice to wake up on a Saturday in the fall and not be feeling the stress of game day," said Nottke, a native of Bellevue, Ohio who holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Toledo. "A lot goes on at a game, and a lot can go wrong. On Thursday, September 1
st, I'll probably get up late, have breakfast and read the paper. I'll take my time and drive over to the game that night just in time to hear the cannon go off at kickoff."
Nottke's first step on his path to becoming an athletic administrator actually began as something of a fluke. Back in the seventh grade he suffered a season-ending broken shoulder at basketball practice. His coach at the time, a local barber named Frank DeBlase, asked him to be the team manager. Nottke agreed. He quickly found his calling.
"I enjoyed it, and let's face it, I wasn't a very good player anyway," said Nottke with a laugh. "I didn't have much of a future as a player, so it was my way to be involved."
Nottke continued in his role as a team manager all the way through high school. When it came time to pick a college, Nottke looked for a school with good academics and a men's basketball program where he would fit in as a student manager. It came down to two schools: Toledo and Bowling Green. Was there ever any doubt who would win that recruiting duel?
Nottke thrived in his role with the Rocket men's basketball team, first under Head Coach Jay Eck, then with Larry Gipson. Enduring the long hours of being a student manager wasn't easy, but Nottke enjoyed every minute, especially the road trips, a big deal for a small-town boy who had never been on an airplane until he went to college. "A lot of wonderful memories," recalled Nottke. "A really great group of coaches and players. We had a special camaraderie."
Graduating with a degree in education, Nottke planned to be a teacher, a high school athletic director or a director of a community recreation facility. However, then-Associate Athletic Director Tim Selgo took Nottke out for breakfast at the old Secor Grill (now Campus Polleyes) and offered him a role as a graduate assistant. Nottke worked for a short while in compliance and academic advising before another associate AD, Mike Karabin, invited him to work on the external side of the operation in marketing and promotions. Once in that role, Nottke never looked back.
"I enjoyed that side of things more because I'm a people person," said Nottke, who started out by doing student promotions, placing ads, selling advertising and delivering promotional materials. "Mike was a really good person to learn from. He gave me the shot to get deeper into this business."
Nottke worked his way up the Rocket ladder under longtime Athletic Director Mike O'Brien, who became a close friend. O'Brien eventually tapped him to become deputy AD in 2016. Over the years, Nottke worked tirelessly to raise funds to help promote the efforts of thousands of student-athletes and coaches.
"I've had such a great time the past 33 years meeting people and developing relationships," said Nottke. "I've always tried to bring people together who have an interest in our program and an interest in supporting our student athletes. Those relationships over the years have become like an extended family to me. In the end, it's the people that matter the most. The games, the big wins are great, but the fact that Rocket Athletics brings people together is the most important thing to me."
As for the big wins, Nottke rattled off a few – football wins over Michigan, Penn State, Pitt, Marshall, men's basketball victories over Ohio State, Michigan State and Cincinnati, women's basketball triumphs over Duke and the WNIT championship win over USC – before admitting that there are just too many in every sport to make a list. For him, it was always about the people anyway.
"It was all a lot of fun," he said. "But every one of those wins has people attached to it. Just about every big win, every road trip, I remember who I was with and the fun times we had. We had lots of nice dinners on road trips with Jim Findlay, a donor and great guy who would always go around the table and make everyone talk about themselves. It's gone way too fast but what an awesome experience to be in the room, to meet all these wonderful people and learn their stories. It's just been a lot of fun."
With his run as a Rocket just about coming to an end, Nottke concedes the job has its downsides.
"This job requires a lot of hours and a lot of patience," Nottke. "You are on call 24/7. I can think of summers when I would go on vacation, and inevitably I'd be on the phone or answering an email, dealing with something work-related. You literally can't turn it off. So when I became eligible to retire last fall, I decided that it would be best for me to try something else. It just made sense for me. I'm relatively young (51) so I'm ready to try something new."
So as Nottke ends one career and begins another, he has been able to reflect back on his Rocket career with equal parts satisfaction and disbelief at his good fortune.
"I remember my first few months on the job, meeting Al Bohl, the athletic director at the time, and all his assistants -- Tim Selgo, Peter Fields, Mike Karabin, Marnie Swift, Shelly Applebaum," said Nottke. "I remember thinking, 'Wouldn't it be cool to have one of their jobs?' I think at the time I felt like it was unobtainable, that I could never get that lucky. I thought about that recently and said to myself, holy smokes, I did it. I made it to the number-two chair. It all worked out and it's been a good life. To work here for 33 years, I must have done something right.
"It's been a heck of a journey."
What They Say About Dave Nottke
"I have said on numerous occasions, that there is not a more dedicated and loyal employee to the University of Toledo than Dave. His 33 years of service were simply outstanding. Dave has the innate ability when talking with adonor to make that individual feel that they are the most important person in the room. I witnessed it for my 20 years at UToledo. I, along, with scores of Rocket fans and friends, wish Dave the very best in his next chapter."
- Former Toledo Vice President and Director of Athletics Mike O'Brien
"Dave loves Toledo and is a loyal Rocket guy. I love that he started here as a men's basketball manager and has devoted the greater part of his life to helping our UT Athletic Department thrive. From the day I was announced as the head women's basketball coach 14 years ago, I have greatly appreciated the introductions Dave made so that I could meet so many of our Rocket fans. You would be hard-pressed to find someone in our community who isn't already connected to Dave in some way. I am very thankful for all Dave has done throughout his career to help our Toledo women's basketball program."
"Dave Nottke is as good a person as I've ever been around. He has been such a loyal Rocket. He has a great feel for this community. Donors connected with him. He paid attention to everybody and everything. Everybody knows who he is. He's one of the most likeable people in Rocket Nation. He's going to be sorely missed. I also really appreciate everything he's done for Rocket Basketball."
"Dave has been a pillar of stability on our campus. He's created so many great relationships and friendships over the years that Rocket Athletics has benefited from in so many ways. On a personal level, he's been with me every step of the way, beginning with the hiring process when I became head coach. He's been a shoulder for me to lean on and a sounding board for me. I really appreciate his friendship and everything he's done for me and my family, and for Toledo Athletics and our football program. I wish him nothing but the best in his retirement from UT and the next steps in life. Dave will always be a Rocket, so I look forward to seeing him around here with his feet kicked up and without all the responsibilities he used to have."
"I can't thank Dave enough for everything he's done for me since I arrived here. He's done everything he could to help me make vital connections with our supporters in the Toledo community. We've had countless breakfasts, lunches and dinners together the last four months. He went way beyond what he needed to do in our short time together, and I truly appreciate him and his unwavering loyalty to the Midnight Blue & Gold."
- Toledo Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair
