Bucknell University Athletics
Jim Cotner Named Head Men's Golf Coach at Bucknell
8/14/2001 8:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Aug. 14, 2001
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Jim Cotner, for nearly 30 years a teacher, coach and administrator in the Lewisburg Area School District, has been named head men's golf coach at Bucknell University, Director of Athletics and Recreation John Hardt announced Tuesday.
A 2000 inductee into the West Branch Chapter of the Pennsylvania Athletic Hall of Fame, Cotner recently retired from Lewisburg Area High School, where he served as the school's director of athletics for the past 11 years. Since moving to the district in September 1972, Cotner coached the Dragons' boy's varsity tennis team for four years (1972-75), the boy's varsity golf team for five seasons (1982-86), the boy's junior varsity basketball squad for two years (1972-74) and the boy's varsity basketball team for 17 years (1974-90).
A 1972 graduate of East Stroudsburg University, Cotner is active in the local golf scene, as well. For the last nine years he has been president of the North Central Pennsylvania Golf Association, and he is an eight-year USGA Committee Member for Regional Golf Associations.
"Bucknell has produced a lot of tremendous student-athletes from the golf program," said Cotner, who has also worked as a color commentator on the radio broadcasts of Bucknell basketball games. "Those student-athletes have been very successful upon graduation from Bucknell, and my hope in taking over this program is to get those alums back involved in their own program. We need to continue to recruit that caliber of person into the men's golf program at Bucknell."
"Jim is a perfect fit for our men's golf program," commented Hardt. "He is well-respected throughout the Lewisburg community, and he has the golf credentials to match. We have a good young team and I know Jim is excited to meet the new challenges presented by the program."
Cotner takes over for 1960 Bucknell alum Tommy Thompson who retired in June following his 44th year associated with Bucknell Athletics and 20th year as head men's golf coach.
The Bison golf squad opens its 2001 fall season Sept. 8-9 at the Colgate-Cornell Invitational. Bucknell finished fourth at the Patriot League Championship last spring and returns all-conference players Jimmy Freeman and Nick Leibowitz.
