RIKE CENTER TURNS 
RIKE CENTER TURNS 50
When it was dedicated on May 17, 1975, few could have predicted the incredible stories that would be set at the Rike Physical Education Center.
Prior to 1975, men’s indoor athletics took place in the Alumni Gymnasium – now Battelle Fine Arts Center. But a lead gift of $300,000 from the Rike family of Dayton, OH, allowed Otterbein to build a new, $1.5 million, state-of-the-art athletics facility. Fondly called “The Otterdome,” the Rike Center was considered the envy of the OAC at the time of its dedication. It is now the home of women’s and men’s basketball, volleyball, and men’s and women’s wrestling.
ABOUT THE Rike Family
David L. Rike served on the Otterbein College Board of Trustees from 1879-1895. His son, Frederick H. Rike, class of 1888, held the same position from 1906 to 1947. Susanne Rike MacDonald, class of 1890, taught music at Otterbein from 1894-1895. Generations continued their relationship with Otterbein through the establishment of the Rike Family Foundation.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE DONORS
who have invested in the Rike Center over the past 50 years, including these leadership level donors who recently supported the replacement of the court floor and upcoming bleachers.
• The Vida S. Clements Foundation • Mark R. Thresher ’78, P’05, and Deborah Scott Thresher ’77, P’05, • Roush Family Foundation, • “O” Club Foundation, • Elmer “Bud” Yoest ’53, P’77, P’80, • Phil J. Susi ’05, • Steve Moeller ’66, P’97.
May 17, 1975 DEDICATION DAY. David L. Rike served on the Otterbein College Board of Trustees from 1879-1895. His son, Frederick H. Rike, class of 1888, held the same position from 1906 to 1947. Susanne Rike MacDonald, class of 1890, taught music at Otterbein from 1894-1895. Generations continued their relationship with Otterbein through the establishment of the Rike Family Foundation.
The design has allowed the facility to be adapted to address changing needs over the past 50 years, thanks to the open-area concept championed by former Director of Athletics Elmer “Bud” Yoest ’53, P’77, P’80. The Rike Center has hosted commencements, college fairs, and even the October 2019 Democratic Presidential Debate, presented by CNN and The New York Times.
For its 50th anniversary, the Rike Center received some upgrades, including two indoor golf practice facilities (a simulator and space for putting practice) and, most importantly, a new, state-ofthe-art floor.
The maple hardwood floor covers 12,200 square feet and has a 61% force reduction, which means that athletes using the floor absorb 39% of the impact, while the floor absorbs the rest of the impact. The new floor replaces the one installed in 1992, which was also maple hardwood, but only had a 40% force reduction. Tony Stalford, the president of The Final Floor, Inc., is also part of Rike Center history; he has installed every floor the Rike Center has had, starting when he was a teenager helping to install the center’s first floor.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary with some exciting new updates, here’s a look back at the history of “The Rike.”
July 19, 1973
Groundbreaking. Suzanne Rike Kircher hands the ceremonial shovel to Board Chair Harold Boda, as President Thomas J. Kerr IV looks on.
June 1, 1974
Board Chair Elmer Funkhouser Jr. at the cornerstone laying ceremony.
1975
The curved roof, which had already earned the building the nickname “Otterdome,” takes shape over top of the Rike Center.
May 22, 1975
The Danish Gymnastics Team presented the first public performance in the Rike Center as part of the events of the Rike Center dedication week.
1975 to 1992
Elmer “Bud” Yoest ’53, P’77, P’80 served as athletic director. He taught and coached at Otterbein for 36 years. His push to make the Rike Center an open area, multi-use structure allowed the facility to grow to meet the changing needs of Otterbein students and athletic programs.
Coach Dick Reynolds ’65 Leadership Era
Coach Dick Reynolds ’65 guided the men’s basketball team for 40 seasons from 1972-2012. Reynolds is the most successful basketball coach in the history of the Ohio Athletic Conference, with all but three years of his coaching under the Rike Center dome. In 2002, he led the Otterbein Men’s Basketball Team to win the NCAA Division III Championship. He also served as athletic director from 1992 to 2012.
1976
Otterbein “O” Club founding member Dwight “Smokey” Ballenger, Coach Dick Reynolds ’65, and athletic director Elmer “Bud” Yoest ’53, P’77, P’80 add the first championship banner earned in the Rike Center to the historic banners brought over from the old Alumni Gymnasium.
1985
The Rike Center received a major upgrade when a new scoreboard was installed over the basketball court.
Fall of 1996
Senator Robert Dole of Kansas spoke at Otterbein in the Rike Center while on the campaign trail. Over the years, Otterbein has played host to numerous national and international dignitaries.
2001-02 season
The most exciting Men’s Basketball season to date in which Otterbein won the NCAA Division III Championship. Though the final game was played in North Carolina, students were treated to a truly spectacular season at home in the Rike Center.
2002
Jeff “Mr. Incredible” Gibbs ’02 led the Men’s Basketball Team to the championship. He averaged 23 points and 16 rebounds per game that season, and was named Division III Player of the Year for his hard work.
2008
Arizona senator John McCain joined the ranks of presidential hopefuls who spoke to Otterbein and Westerville under the Rike Center dome.
Photo by Lauren Rothermel McClor ’10
2019
The Rike Center hosted the October 2019 Democratic Presidential Debate, presented by CNN and The New York Times.
2024
For its 50th anniversary, the Rike Center installed a new, state-of-the-art floor. The maple hardwood floor covers 12,200 square feet and has a 61% force reduction.