ALAMOSA, Colo. (September 26, 2016) – With heavy hearts, Adams State University regrets to inform the passing of legendary figure Jack "Doc" Cotton.

Cotton passed away Monday morning. Funeral arrangements are still to be determined.

"Coach Cotton is an Adams State legend and will always be. He was big of stature but had a soul to match. Truly he was one of a kind. The entire Adams State athletic family will miss him. We wish Mrs. Cotton and the family to know our thoughts and prayers are with them." Said Athletic Director Larry Mortensen.

Cotton, best known for his basketball coaching success, served in a variety of roles at Adams State during his tenure which spanned over three decades (1960-87). A member of Adams State's inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame Class in 2000, Cotton coached the men's basketball team from 1960-78.

"Doc Cotton was an icon of the Adams State athletic department for many years," said Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Damon Martin, "He was one of the most positive men I have ever been around; always encouraging, patting people on the back and believing in his athletes and coaches. If you knew Doc Cotton, then you knew him as a friend." 

Cotton, who guided RMAC Hall of Famers Lonnie Porter and Debra Gilbert and several other great athletes, also served as athletic director and as a golf, tennis and football coach at various times during his career. He also drove the athletic bus, all while maintaining a full teaching load.

Prior to arriving at Adams State, Cotton served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and played for the original Denver Nuggets from 1948-50. In his 111 career games with the Nuggets he averaged 4.4 points per game.

He was also a part of the U.S. Olympic Committee, a role that helped him bring Olympic athletes to train in Alamosa in preparation for the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, held at high altitude.

During the process to secure Alamosa as the 1968 Olympic training site, Cotton used numerous prestigious contacts to fly 40 cases of Coors beer, banquet cans, and Colorado Carnations to Washington, D.C. At the D.C. hotel, representatives from Los Alamos and Northern Arizona University had suites of rooms as they vied for the privilege of securing the Olympic athletes training site.

"We had one room, but a tub full of cold Coors beer and a table of Colorado carnations. Everyone gathered in our room." Cotton said in a previous interview about the Olympic training site process.

That summer the 1968 U.S. Olympic athletes, for cross country, wrestling, basketball, and walking, trained in Alamosa.

He also served as the President of the NAIA Coaches Association and was proud to help develop the legendary Top of the Nation Coaches' Clinic.

Cotton received his Bachelor of Science in physical education and Master of Science in administration degrees at Denver University, in 1950 and 1952 respectively; he earned his doctorate in education at University of Wyoming, Laramie, in 1963.

Before accepting a position with Adams State in 1960, Cotton coached at a couple of Midwestern colleges, including Southwestern College at Winfield, Kan., which won the Kansas Collegiate Athletic title.

Cotton is a member of the Adams State Athletic Hall of Fame and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Hall of Fame.