Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina and Catamount Athletics mourn the loss of former men's basketball head coach Steve Cottrell who passed away Monday (Sept. 23) in a hospital in Gainesville, Ga. Leading the Catamount men's basketball program from 1977-87, Cottrell ranks as the third-winningest head coach in WCU program history.
A native of Henderson, N.C., Cottrell's coaching career included stints at Old Dominion, Washington State, and Southern Methodist before making his way to Cullowhee ahead of the 1977-78 season. During his tenure, Cottrell helped to usher WCU into Southern Conference competition in his first year as head coach, as well as make the move into the Ramsey Center in the 1986-87 campaign.
Over his 10 years at the helm, Cottrell's Catamounts posted a 145-133 record. Eight of his 10 teams posted records of .500-or-better including five-consecutive winning seasons between 1979-84. Cottrell's 1981-82 squad finished with an overall mark of 19-8, the school's best NCAA Division I record until the Larry Hunter-led Catamounts of 2009-10 secured the program's first 20-win season. Following the 1979-80 season which posted a 17-10 overall record with a 9-7 league mark, Cottrell earned Southern Conference Coach of the Year plaudits – to date, the only Western Carolina men's basketball coach to collect the top league honors for a head coach.
During his tenure, seven different Catamount men's basketball players were named All-Southern Conference including three-time honoree – and two-time Academic All-America selection – Greg Dennis with Kenny Trimier, Ronnie Carr, and Quinton Lytle also earning two selections each. Also, a combined eight first-year Catamounts collected SoCon All-Freshman team honors under Cottrell's tutelage. Two players that played under Cottrell – Dennis and Thomas “Bubba” Wilson – are members of WCU's Athletics Hall of Fame.
Following his collegiate coaching career, Cottrell moved to Hayesville, N.C., where he worked as a coach, athletic director, and assistant principal for Hayesville High School.
The son of the late Joel Stephen Cottrell Sr. and Oretha Louise Avery Cottrell, Steve is survived by his wife of 54 years, Kathy Cottrell; a daughter, Laura Cottrell of Chattanooga, Tenn.; two sons, Todd Cottrell – a former football player at WCU (1987-89) – and wife, Kim of Flowery Branch, Ga., and Michael Cottrell and wife, Jenny of Hayesville; and five grandchildren, Rachel Cottrell, Zach Cottrell, Drew Cottrell, Josh Cottrell – who played basketball in the 2018-19 season at WCU – and Adam Cottrell.
According to the obituary, a private family celebration will be held and Ivie Funeral Home of Hayesville is in charge of arrangements.
