Jeff Wittman

Jeffrey M. Wittman (born March 4, 1971) is an American high school teacher and former gridiron football fullback.

Jeff Wittman

Position	Fullback
Personal information
Born:	(1971-03-04) March 4, 1971 (age 54) Rochester, New York, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career history
College	Ithaca (1989–1992)
High school	Gates Chili (NY)
Career highlights and awards
3 ×  All-America first-team section (DIII) 1991 National champion (DIII)
College Football Hall of Fame (2013)

Biography

Wittman attended Gates Chili High School in Gates, New York,^[1] where he competed in football and wrestling.^[2] In football, he was a two-way player as a tailback and linebacker.^[3] While he expressed a desire to play in NCAA Division I,^[3] he went on to play college football at the NCAA Division III level. As a fullback for Ithaca College during the 1989–1992 seasons,^[1] Wittman was named a first-team All-American for Division III three times:^[4] 1990,^[5] 1991,^[6] and 1992.^[7] He was a member of the 1991 Ithaca Bombers football team that won the Division III championship,^[1] rushing for 159 yards and three touchdowns in the title game.^[8]

At the completion of his college career, Wittman held Ithaca records for touchdowns in a single season (19 in 1992), total points scored in a single season (114 in 1992), career rushing touchdowns (44), career touchdowns (45), career total points scored (270), and career rushing yards (3410); through the 2022 season, he continues to hold Ithaca records for most rushing yards in a single game (272 yards on November 14, 1992),^[9] average rushing yards-per-game for a season (134.3 in 1990), and career playoff points scored (68).^[10]

Following his collegiate career, Wittman became a teacher and coach within the Gates Chili Central School District in his hometown.^[1]

In 2001, Wittman was inducted to the athletic hall of fame at Ithaca College.^[11] In 2013, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.^[1] In 2014, he was inducted the athletic hall of fame at Gates Chili High School,^[12] and the walk of fame at Frontier Field in Rochester, New York.^[13] Wittman's college head coach was Jim Butterfield, also an inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame.^[14]