Melvyn Ottinger was a 1962 graduate of Shorter earning a BA in Biology. In 1960 Ottinger was voted Best All-Around Athlete at Shorter and was MVP of the basketball team. He earned 10 varsity letters in four sports- basketball (4), tennis (3), baseball, (2) and volleyball (1). In 1960 he led the Hawks (and the entire NAIA) in free throw percentage (.901) and still holds that record at Shorter.  He was two-time All-Conference selection in basketball his junior and senior year. 

In 1961, he helped lead the Hawks to a conference championship in men's volleyball and that same year was voted Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. Ottinger also served as assistant basketball coach to Shorter Hall of Fame coach Bill Foster and as men's golf coach after graduating from Shorter.