A lifelong bulldog, Brian Sparks was named the 2025 Outstanding Alumnus. The 1985 graduate received the award during the annual OHS Honors Night. Best known as Coach Sparks, he’s been a coach at Otsego for 37 years and works for OPS with the grounds and maintenance department.

“It’s a true honor. All the people that I’ve been able to work with here over the last 40 years, some of them who are on this wall (referencing the Outstanding Alumni display) to be thought of as someone like them is a pretty big honor,” he says. 

He’s been a part of the coaching staff for football for 37 years and has been a high school wrestling coach for 17 years. He has also coached middle school wrestling and helped with youth wrestling and football programs for many years. In his acceptance, he shared how he found his passion for coaching. He was a competitive athlete, as were his siblings, and his coaches and teachers were mentors who had a big impact on his life. “At that time I knew my passion and commitment for this town and the school system where I wanted to continue to grow,” he said. Shortly after graduation he was invited to be a part of the coaching staff for football and wrestling. “Without that, I never would have been introduced to what I love to do now.”

Sparks says his athletes and their families have become “his community”. For the students he coaches, he’s more than a coach. “Brian is always there to help anyone anytime, whether it's taking them to and from practice when they need a ride, helping them with homework, or supplying them with a meal if needed,” according to his nomination. “He has been a mentor and a role model for many students during his time here at OHS. He is more than just a coach, he is a friend and someone that many students look up to even beyond their years at OHS.”  

He ended his acceptance by addressing the students in attendance, “No matter what path you choose in your life, there are four things you need to think of.” He encouraged them to find what success means to them, find their community, find their passion and commit to it. 

“I wasn’t a kid who went on to college after high school, so I think it says that you can still find great success just finding a passion and trying to live that passion out and finding ways you can be successful in a different route.”

(coaching photos courtesy of Gary Shook)