Entering the fall of 2025, Steve Otterbein begins his 16th season as a coach for the Hillsdale College football program, and his fourth season as the Chargers' defensive coordinator. After spending the 2021 season calling the plays on an interim basis for Hillsdale's defense, Otterbein took on the mantle of defensive coordinator permanently in 2022, and has continued to build on a proud tradition of Charger success on that side of the ball over the past three seasons, including a strong campaign in 2024.

Otterbein is well suited to the position of defensive coordinator, having spent the several seasons on the defensive side of the ball coaching the team's cornerbacks, while also serving as Hillsdale's special teams coordinator. That experience, coupled with his time as a defensive back playing for the Chargers from 2003 to 2007, give him a deep understanding of the Hillsdale College football program, the system it runs defensively and the type of hard-nosed, high-intensity football the Charger D has become known for with over the years. 

After playing for the Chargers, he spent three seasons as a graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan University before returning to Hillsdale College as the wide receivers coach in 2010. In 2017, he moved to the defensive side of the ball, taking over as the team's cornerbacks coach and special teams coordinator. 

Football at Hillsdale has been a family affair for Steve, who played under his father, former Chargers head coach Keith Otterbein, and also coached under him until Keith's retirement in 2023 after 22 seasons. Since 2012, he's also coached alongside his younger brother, Brad, who currently serves as the offensive coordinator for the Chargers.

As a kid, Steve grew up playing multiple sports, but gravitated towards football when his father got an assistant coaching job at Ball State in Muncie, Indiana. He played high school football at nearby Delta High, and during four years with the Eagles, Otterbein helped Delta win back-to-back regional titles and reach the 2001 Class 4A state title game, the Eagles' only IHSAA state final appearance in program history.

The following year, Keith Otterbein took over as the head football coach at Hillsdale College, and following his high school graduation, Steve chose to become a Charger as well.

Over four years as a defensive back at Hillsdale from 2003-07, Steve developed a reputation as a special teams ace, appearing in 37 games and finishing his career with 51 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.

Otterbein is also responsible for recruiting Northeast Ohio for the Chargers. He lives in Hillsdale with his wife Lisa, and two children, Tyson and Lucy.