Coach Cottrell Inducted into KSHSAA Hall of Fame

Between+the+girls+and+boys+varsity+game+against+Douglass%2C+Fred+Cottrell+stands+with+his+wife+Janie+as+he+is+awarded+with+the+KSHSAA+Hall+of+Fame.

Photo by Travis Willson

Between the girls and boys varsity game against Douglass, Fred Cottrell stands with his wife Janie as he is awarded with the KSHSAA Hall of Fame.

Written by Tatum Wykes, photo editor

Coach Cottrell inducted into KSHSAA Hall of Fame

Succeeding 52 years of coaching, Fred Cottrell was entered into the KSHSAA Hall of Fame on Feb. 12. To celebrate this induction, a ceremony was held before the boys varsity basketball game at Conway Springs High School.  

Coach Cottrell coached basketball boys and girls, baseball, football and track. His last season of track ended in 2017. Even though Cottrell is retired, he still attends every home football game, along with some home basketball games.

“I’m not [happy to be retiring], but I know it’s the right time. I’d still like to be coaching, but I physically can’t do it anymore,” Cottrell said in an interview with VYPE Magazine in 2017.

Coach Cottrell coached more than 1,400 varsity contests, winning 12 state titles and five state runner-up finishes. He was a 1st and 2nd Vice President of Kansas Coaches Association, along with National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2002. In 2009, he was called into the National High School Athletics Coaches Association Hall of Fame.