Community hub
Recent from talks
Contribute something to knowledge base
Content stats: 0 posts, 0 articles, 0 media, 0 notes
Members stats: 0 subscribers, 0 contributors, 0 moderators, 0 supporters
Subscribers
Supporters
Contributors
Moderators
Barney Cotton
Barney Thomas Cotton (born September 30, 1956) is an American football coach and former player.
Cotton was born in Omaha, Nebraska and attended Omaha Burke High School.[citation needed]
Cotton's college playing career began in 1975 at University of Nebraska–Lincoln after the conclusion of his high school career at Omaha Burke. He played his first two seasons as an offensive lineman, then spent the next season on the other side of the ball, playing defensive tackle. In his senior season, he returned to the offensive line, earning All-Big-Eight honors while helping Tom Osborne's 1978 team to a league championship.
Cotton was a third-round pick in the 1979 NFL draft and played for one season with the Cincinnati Bengals before moving to the St Louis Cardinals. In 1982, after three seasons with St. Louis, a knee injury forced his retirement. He returned to Nebraska, completing a bachelor's degree in 1983.[citation needed]
Cotton began his football coaching career in 1989 when he joined the staff at St. Cloud State University as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, helping St. Cloud State to a North Central Conference championship that same year. Cotton was also a student of St. Cloud State during his coaching career there, completing his master's degree in athletic administration during his last year as their coach in 1994.
In 1995, Cotton was appointed as head coach for the first time in his career, back in his home state of Nebraska, at Hastings College. In 1995, Hastings College won the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference (NIAC) championship and made an appearance in the NAIA playoffs, and Cotton was named NIAC Coach of the Year.
In 1997, former Nebraska Cornhuskers player and New Mexico State University head coach Tony Samuel hired Cotton to the same position he had held at St. Cloud State, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Although championships eluded New Mexico State during Cotton's six years with the program, the production of his offensive players generated impressive statistics. New Mexico State ranked nationally in the top 25 in overall offense in 1998, 2000 and 2002, and was ranked nationally in the top 25 in rushing offense for all six years. In his final season, New Mexico State led the Sun Belt Conference in passing efficiency, rushing offense and total offense. Six New Mexico State linemen earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors during Cotton's tenure.
Cotton was hired by Nebraska head coach Frank Solich, once again to serve as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, and helping Nebraska finish with a 10–3 record in 2003. Despite helping Nebraska to a national top ten rushing offense and mentoring four linemen to earn All-Big 12 Conference honors, Cotton was let go along with nearly all of the other assistants after Solich was replaced by Bill Callahan following the 2003 season.
Barney Cotton
Barney Thomas Cotton (born September 30, 1956) is an American football coach and former player.
Cotton was born in Omaha, Nebraska and attended Omaha Burke High School.[citation needed]
Cotton's college playing career began in 1975 at University of Nebraska–Lincoln after the conclusion of his high school career at Omaha Burke. He played his first two seasons as an offensive lineman, then spent the next season on the other side of the ball, playing defensive tackle. In his senior season, he returned to the offensive line, earning All-Big-Eight honors while helping Tom Osborne's 1978 team to a league championship.
Cotton was a third-round pick in the 1979 NFL draft and played for one season with the Cincinnati Bengals before moving to the St Louis Cardinals. In 1982, after three seasons with St. Louis, a knee injury forced his retirement. He returned to Nebraska, completing a bachelor's degree in 1983.[citation needed]
Cotton began his football coaching career in 1989 when he joined the staff at St. Cloud State University as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, helping St. Cloud State to a North Central Conference championship that same year. Cotton was also a student of St. Cloud State during his coaching career there, completing his master's degree in athletic administration during his last year as their coach in 1994.
In 1995, Cotton was appointed as head coach for the first time in his career, back in his home state of Nebraska, at Hastings College. In 1995, Hastings College won the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference (NIAC) championship and made an appearance in the NAIA playoffs, and Cotton was named NIAC Coach of the Year.
In 1997, former Nebraska Cornhuskers player and New Mexico State University head coach Tony Samuel hired Cotton to the same position he had held at St. Cloud State, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Although championships eluded New Mexico State during Cotton's six years with the program, the production of his offensive players generated impressive statistics. New Mexico State ranked nationally in the top 25 in overall offense in 1998, 2000 and 2002, and was ranked nationally in the top 25 in rushing offense for all six years. In his final season, New Mexico State led the Sun Belt Conference in passing efficiency, rushing offense and total offense. Six New Mexico State linemen earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors during Cotton's tenure.
Cotton was hired by Nebraska head coach Frank Solich, once again to serve as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, and helping Nebraska finish with a 10–3 record in 2003. Despite helping Nebraska to a national top ten rushing offense and mentoring four linemen to earn All-Big 12 Conference honors, Cotton was let go along with nearly all of the other assistants after Solich was replaced by Bill Callahan following the 2003 season.