Rock Hill names Cottrell next baseball coach

Keith Cottrell said Monday evening by phone from his home in Florida that he's looking forward to being a Bearcat, and it won't be his first contact with Rock Hill High.

Cottrell was approved by the Rock Hill school board to become the next Bearcats' baseball coach. He was Florida State's punter in 1999 when the Seminoles went 12-0 and won the national championship. Among his teammates was All-American defensive end Chris Hope, a two-sport star for the Bearcats.

"I'm very excited about this opportunity to become a Rock Hill Bearcat,'' Cottrell said. "I had no desire to leave where I am. But Rock Hill is too good of a school, and the opportunity to teach and coach there is something I look forward to."

Cottrell has coached baseball eight seasons, two at Orlando Boone High School and six in his hometown, Tallahassee, at Chiles High School. The seniors on this year's team were 92-16 at Chiles, where he was the infield coach.

Rock Hill High Principal Ozzie Ahl recruited Cottrell for the job. Their friendship goes back to Cottrell's high school days when he attended Bobby Bowden's Florida State football camp.

"I am very excited to have Keith Cottrell join our staff at Rock Hill High School,'' Ahl said. "He comes with outstanding references as a teacher and coach."

"Keith has been coaching in a very successful, respected program in Tallahassee at Chiles High School," Ahl said. "I look for him to build on what we have here to take Bearcat Baseball to the next level."

Cottrell was heavily recruited out of his school and was a regular at Bowden's summer camps. Ahl, a Florida State grad, worked the camps and became close to Cottrell. It was a bond that exists today.

When Cottrell was in college, Ahl often attended games and spent time with the Seminoles punter. Cottrell said he and Ahl talk on the phone every "three or so months,'' When two-year coach Chris Bates was let go after a DUI charge, Alh contacted Cottrell.

"When I was in high school and college, it was Coach Ahl, not principal Ahl,'' Cottrell said. "He directed me to Florida State. He is my mentor, someone I look to for direction because he kept me straight, even if it was over the phone.

"I thank him and the Rock Hill administration for this opportunity. The first thing I'll do is figure out what kind of ball club we'll have. Then mold what we need to do depending on our talent. We'll do what's best for us to win ... won't be like Florida State this season, swinging for the fences if we can't hit it out.''

Cottrell said his strengths are working with infielders and building a good defense. He's not opposed to small ball and will play that style if it fits his players.

Hope, a starting defensive back for the Tennessee Titans, talked to Cottrell by phone after he accepted the job.

"Rock Hill is getting a good one and I'm really excited about him being a Bearcat,'' Hope said Monday from Nashville, where he and a group of Titans are working out on their own in anticipation of having an NFL season. "He's a guy who's always walked a straight line.

"He was a good student, is a good Christian and was a great teammate. I was on special teams my first season and he led me in the right direction. I can still see in my mind Keith out there punting long after practice when everyone else was leaving. He's that kind of guy; strives for perfection.''

Cottrell, 32, also played in college with former Northwestern High standout Dee Feaster.

He will teach social studies. Cottrell is single but said he's getting married next summer. His wife-to-be will stay in Florida until then.

This story was originally published June 28, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Rock Hill names Cottrell next baseball coach."