Cotton Picked to Become Next Judson Men's Basketball Coach
Media
What They Are Saying About Joel Cotton
"Joel Cotton will make any basketball program better. His ability to clearly communicate and convey his message to student-athletes makes him an invaluable asset."
Dane Fife
Assistant Basketball Coach
Michigan State University
"In three years, Joel was able to recruit three Top 40 recruits in the state of Indiana as well as the conference leading scorer without the benefit of athletic scholarships. His relentless and systematic recruiting approach helped raise our program to the Top 25 in the country."
Tom Slyder
Head Basketball Coach
Anderson University
"Joel Cotton is a person of great character. He cares deeply about the student-athletes he works with and the school he represents. He is a true basketball coach who is in this profession for all the right reasons."
Jeff Tungate
Associate Head Basketball Coach
Oakland University
"Joel's core beliefs are student-centered, as he continually motivates students to achieve their academic, athletic, social and spiritual potential during their formative college experience."
Michael Zapolski
Director of Athletics
Augustana College
ELGIN, Ill. – Stepping to lead the men's basketball program after three years of being the assistant coach, Joel Cotton is the new head coach of Judson University. Cotton brings with him NCAA Division I and III coaching experience to Judson as he looks to build upon a foundation that has won three CCAC Championships in the past five years while making two trips to the NAIA Division II National Tournament.
"Joel brings a presence with him to the court as a coach that Judson University will benefit from," says Director of Athletics Tony Tompkins. "He has done a great job as an assistant the past three years and I feel privileged to give him his first head coaching position. His knowledge of the game and strong recruiting skills will help take Judson up a level in the NAIA."
Cotton brings to the court nine seasons of collegiate coaching experience from the NCAA Division I level to NAIA. He started his coaching career under Doug Noll and then worked under current Michigan State University men's basketball assistant coach Dane Fife at Indiana University-Purdue University Ft. Wayne as the Director of Basketball Operations before moving onto Anderson University (NCAA Division III) and Judson (NAIA).
"I am excited and humbled about the opportunity to be named the head men's basketball coach at Judson University," says Cotton. "I want to thank Tony Tompkins for placing his trust in me to continue the success he has built in the men's basketball program. God has provided many open doors in my coaching career and I look forward to seeing God lead in this new position. I have enjoyed working with the Judson community for the past three years and I look forward to continuing to help our student-athletes maximize their athletic potential, while also realizing their God-given purpose in life."
Indiana University-Purdue University Ft. Wayne is the place that Cotton had a chance to start his coaching career. He witnessed the play of NCAA Division I basketball and helped IPFW to a then program best NCAA Division I 10 wins. He also contributed to the development of two players that went onto play professionally overseas.
After starting his career at NCAA Division I, Cotton moved to Anderson University at the NCAA Division III level. In his three years at Anderson, he recruited two Top 40 seniors from the Indiana Class of 2007 and also the seventh leading scorer in NJCAA Division II. Those players helped to rebuild a program that finished second in the HCAC in 2007-08 and to a nine-game winning streak in 2008-09 which was the longest in 27 years. He also set up games with NCAA Division I opponents, team travel, and was the head JV coach. After he left, his recruits won the 2009-10 HCAC Championship and went to the program's first-ever NCAA Division III National Tournament.
In 2009, he transitioned to NAIA as the assistant coach for Tony Tompkins at Judson. In his first season, Judson won the CCAC Tournament Championship and went to the 2010 NAIA Division II National Tournament. In the past two years, Judson has finished second in the CCAC regular season and had numerous All-CCAC performers.
While at Judson, Cotton has also been the head women's cross country and track and field coach the past two years. In just two seasons, he has recruited athletes that has propelled the women's cross country team into the national scene as they received votes for the first-time ever in history of the program this past fall in the NAIA National Poll. In three outdoor seasons as a track coach, he has had eight NCCAA (National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association) All-Americans and 10 NAIA national qualifiers. His 2010 cross country team was named a NCCAA scholar-team and has produced several NCCAA scholar-athletes. He was also a part of the team that won the bid to host the NCCAA National Outdoor Track Meet in Joliet, Ill., for three years.
Cotton graduated from Indiana University in 2003 with a Bachelor's of Science in Kinesiology where he was also a student-athlete competing in cross country and track and field in the Big 10. He was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection for track and field and made the team once in cross country. He received his master's degree in Professional Communication from Purdue University in 2005. He is married to his wife, Jennifer, and they reside in Geneva, Ill., with their 11-month old son, Caden.
Assistant Coaching Career
- Indiana University-Purdue University Ft. Wayne (NCAA Division I) - 2003-06
- Anderson University (NCAA Division III) - 2006-09
- Judson University (NAIA) - 2009-current
Playing Career (cross country, track & field)
- Indiana University (1999-2003)
- 3-Time Academic All-Big 10 (track)
- Academic All-Big 10 (cross country)
