Jan. 18, 2003
If Steve Ortmayer is the demonstrative sort of person who “talks with his hands,” he’ll certainly grab the attention of Kentucky football players and recruits.
That’s because of the two Super Bowl championship rings Ortmayer earned while coaching special teams for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. On Saturday, Ortmayer (pronounced “ORT-my-er”) became the seventh assistant coach added to Rich Brooks’ staff. At UK, Ortmayer will be the assistant head coach, special teams coordinator, and coach the tight ends.
“I’m excited to be able to add a man with the background and experience that Steve Ortmayer brings to the University of Kentucky,” Brooks said. “I can’t imagine a more qualified special teams coach who has achieved his level of success. His personnel and administrative background will be an asset to our program.”
Ortmayer is a 25-year veteran of the National Football League, including 17 seasons as a special teams coach, and also has eight years experience in the collegiate ranks.
Ortmayer spent the majority of his NFL career with the Raiders and coached the special teams for the 1981 and 1984 Super Bowl champs. He also coached special teams with the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers and held administrative positions with the San Diego Chargers and St. Louis Rams. It was in St. Louis that Brooks and Ortmayer worked together for the first time.
Ortmayer’s special teams acumen was best displayed in 1991 when his Raiders squad was ranked first in the NFL by the Dallas Morning News, using its statistical analysis of 17 special teams categories.
Ortmayer’s collegiate experience began in 1967 as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Colorado. He was promoted to full-time assistant in 1968 and spent six seasons as an offensive and defensive line coach. He moved to Georgia Tech in 1974 before beginning his career in pro football.
All totaled, Ortmayer has participated in five college bowl games and eight NFL playoffs.
“The excitement of working again with Rich Brooks is a paramount reason for me,” said Brooks of his decision to come to Kentucky. “Seeing how enthused Rich is about working with a school that has the history and tradition of the University of Kentucky is very exciting for me. I truly enjoyed my eight years in college coaching and am really looking forward to returning to college football.”
Born in Painesville, Ohio, Ortmayer grew up in Nashville, Tenn., and Dallas, Tex. He played one season at Vanderbilt before transferring to La Verne (Calif.) College and playing three seasons there.
Ortmayer and his wife, Merylee, have two sons, Beau and Cody.
Ortmayer Coaching/Administrative Experience
1967 Colorado Graduate Assistant, one bowl game1968-73 Colorado Assistant Coach, offensive line, defensive line, four bowl games1974 Georgia Tech Assistant Coach, offensive line1975-77 Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) Assistant Coach, special teams coordinator1978 Oakland Raiders (NFL) Director of Football Operations1979-86 Oakland/L.A. Raiders (NFL) Director of Football Operations, Assistant Coach, special teams coordinator, five playoffs, two Super Bowl championships1987-89 San Diego Chargers (NFL) Director of Football Operations1990-94 Los Angeles Raiders (NFL) Director of Football Operations, Assistant Coach, special teams coordinator, three playoffs1995-96 St. Louis Rams (NFL) Vice President for Football Operations1997-98St. Louis Rams (NFL) Consultant to the Team President1999 Green Bay Packers (NFL) Assistant Coach, special teams coordinator2000-01 Memphis Maniax (XFL) Director of Player Personnel
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