Oosterbaan Field House

Athletes play lacrosse inside UM’s Oosterbaan Field House. Photo courtesy: Mgoblue

Honoring a True Michigan Man

by Justin Bolton

From 1977-1979 the Michigan Wolverines lost three Rose Bowls back-to-back-to-back. The coach “laid part of the blame on the teams having to spend two weeks training in California due to the winter weather back in Michigan. So Michigan athletic director Don Canham raised a couple of million dollars and built an indoor practice facility, now known as the Bennie Oosterbaan Field House” (Hilton). Oosterbaan Field House is now a significant training and competition facility for the sports teams at the University of Michigan. However, it is more than just a building. Its name commemorates the legendary athlete, coach, and administrator Benjamin "Ben" Oosterbaan.

The Oosterbaan Field House was constructed in 1980 and has been an integral part of the University of Michigan's athletic program ever since. The field house has hosted numerous events, including NCAA championships, Big Ten championships, and high school state championships ("Oosterbaan"). It is a state-of-the-art facility that underwent significant renovations in 2018, including new locker rooms and meeting rooms. These renovations have ensured the facility remains a top-notch training and competition center for the university's sports teams ("Oosterbaan"). Today the "field house serves as the indoor home playing field for lacrosse and is used by U-M athletics for indoor practices for a variety of sports" ("Oosterbaan").

UM's Oosterbaan Field House (April 2023) by Justin Bolton.

Photograph of Bennie Oosterbaan. Photo courtesy: MVictors

The importance of the Oosterbaan Field House goes beyond its physical structure. It is named after Michigan multi-sport athlete Benjamin Oosterbaan. Ben Oosterbaan earned All-American honors in football and basketball during his time at the university (needs source). He helped lead the Wolverines to national championships in 1925 and 1926 in basketball. After his playing days were over, Oosterbaan became a football coach at Michigan, where he would eventually lead the Wolverines to three Big Ten championships (needs source). The name "Oosterbaan" has Dutch origins and means "easterner" or "one who comes from the east" ("Oosterbaan Surname"), though Ben Oosterbaan is a "champion of the west" and hails from Muskegon (Dooley).

Oosterbaan was one of the most respected coaches in the country, and he is remembered as a true Michigan Man. “By becoming a Michigan Man, you’re going to be well-rounded in all phases of life. It will teach you how to go in the real world and be a productive citizen and be a great representation of the University” (Allen, 240). Originally, the term was often used to describe athletes who played for the football team. However, over time the term has come to be used more broadly to describe anyone who is affiliated with the university or who shares its values such as excellence, integrity, and leadership (Allen).

Oosterbaan's contributions to the university's athletic programs and his impact are still remembered and celebrated today. He was “memorialized with a Legends patch” years ago by the football team (Putzel). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1958 due to the three All-Americans he received during his football career. “Only one other player in Michigan history can boast of being a three-time All-American” (Putzel). He was also a member of the inaugural class of inductees into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1978. In 2012, Oosterbaan was honored as part of the somewhat controversial "Michigan Football Legends" program, his number "47 was 'un-retired' and placed on the back of linebacker Jake Ryan" (Dooley).

With a rich history and a legacy that continues to this day, the Oosterbaan Field House embodies the excellence and tradition of the University of Michigan. It honors a legendary athlete, coach, and administrator whose impact on the university's athletic program and college sports is still felt today. “The fact that [Oosterbaan] was able to continue Michigan's success with two consecutive Big Ten Championships proves that [he] belongs not just in the pantheon of Michigan greats, but on the mountainside with those who define the program” (Putzel). As the university looks to the future, the Oosterbaan Field House will undoubtedly continue to be a vital training and competition facility for future generations of athletes and coaches.

Works Cited

Allen, Kevin. "What It Means to Be a Wolverine: Michigan’s Greatest Players Talk about Michigan Football." 2013. Needs more source info for this book!

"Athletes playing lacrosse inside UM’s Oosterbaan Field House." Photo. Mgoblue, 2017. https://mgoblue.com/sports/2017/6/16/facilities oosterbaan-field-house-html.aspx. 12 April 2023.

Bolton, Justin. Exterior photograph of UM's Oosterbaan Field House. 11 Apr. 2023. Author's personal collection.

Dooley, Greg. "The Legend Bennie Oosterbaan: This Week in Michigan Football History." 7 Sept. 2018. https://mvictors.com/twimfbhbennieoosterbaan/ Accessed 25 April 2023.

Hilton, John. “Baseball in Bo's Fieldhouse.” Ann Arbor Observer, 5 Mar. 2022, https://annarborobserver.com/baseball-in-bos-fieldhouse/.

“Oosterbaan Field House.” University of Michigan Athletics, https://mgoblue.com/sports/2017/6/16/facilities-oosterbaan-field-house-html.aspx.

"Oosterbaan Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History." Forebears. https://forebears.io/surnames/oosterbaan.

Photograph of Bennie Oosterbaan. MVictors. https://mvictors.com/twimfbhbennieoosterbaan/

Putzel, Peter. “Michigan's Mount Rushmore: Bennie Oosterbaan.” Maize n Brew, Maize n Brew, 9 Dec. 2014, https://www.maizenbrew.com/2014/12/9/7318245/ michigan-football-mount-rushmore-bennie-oosterbaan.

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