Pioneering Coach Enters Owatonna Athletic Hall of Fame

Former Owatonna High School teacher and coach Jeanne Stursa was involved in pioneering two sports initiatives during her time in the school system. She was instrumental in girls athletics before Title IX and got adapted athletics started at OHS.

Stursa coached and taught in Owatonna from 1973 through 2008. She was the head tennis coach from 1973 to 1977 and assistant tennis coach after that. Stursa assisted in basketball as well.

The adapted floor hockey program at OHS was initiated by Stursa who served as the head coach from 1996 to 2008. The Huskies won the state championship in 2004, were a state runner-up three times and won the consolation bracket twice under Stursa.

Stursa joins an impressive list of former coaches in the hall, including Earl Bruhn, Ev Berg, Dick Black, Ken Bey, Jerry Peterson, Len Olson, Tom Byrne, Dudley Otto, Sandy Boss, Gary Ridge, Ed Draheim, Dale Timm, and Ron Phillips. See the full list of Owatonna High School Athletic Hall of Fame members.

Other inductees in the 2019 class include 2008 graduate Amy (Kubat) Lageson, 2001 grad Derek Johnson, class of 1990 grad Nicki (Miller) Martineau, and Tom Haigh of the class of 1958. The five newest members bring the overall total of recipients to 125 since the hall of fame began in 1996.

A public reception will be held at 3 pm at the Owatonna High School commons area and an introduction will occur at the football game Friday night.