Former West Chester Head Coach, GCAA Hall of Famer Ed Cottrell, Dies at 103

Cottrell was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Hall of Fame in 1991 and continued serving on the GCAA Hall of Fame's Veterans Committee into his final days. He will be dearly missed.

Via West Chester University Athletics

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. – Edwin B. Cottrell, a former faculty member, dean, and head coach of the men's golf team at West Chester University passed away on March 28. He was 103 years old.
 
The World War II veteran is survived by two daughters, Mary Carol Fisher and Susan Nation. He was pre-decessed by his wife, Mildred, in 2020.
 
Cottrell flew 65 missions during WWII, piloting a P-47 Thunderbolt with Ninth Air Force's 48th Fighter Group, 493rd Fighter Squadron. In recognition of his wartime service, Ed Cottrell was honored by the French government and received the Legion of Honor. He also received the air medal with eight clusters plus unit and battle citations. After 28 years in the Air Force Reserves, he retired as a Lt. Colonel having served as a Liaison officer to the Air Force Academy.
 
Edwin B.  Cottrell, born January 17, 1922, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was raised in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. After the war, Cottrell earned his undergraduate degree from Slippery Rock University in 1943. He earned his master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and later earned his doctorate in Health and Physical Science from Penn State University. He joined the faculty at West Chester University in 1955, retiring in 1979 at the age of 57 as an Associate Dean of Academics.
 
While at West Chester, Cottrell served as the head coach of the golf team from 1958 to 1977, leading the Golden Rams' golfers to back-to-back conference crowns in 1968 and 1969. He was named "Outstanding Physical Educator" in Pennsylvania by PSAHPER and was a member of the National Golf Coaches' Associate and an educational consultant for the National Golf Foundation. 
 
The Dr. Edwin Cottrell Entrepreneurial Leadership Center (The Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center) on the campus of West Chester University is named in honor of Cottrell, West Chester University Professor Emeritus of Health and Physical Education. The naming of the center was through the generosity of a gift by Claire and Gary Daniels in honor of Dr. Cottrell, Mr. Daniel's golf coach at West Chester.
 
A Celebration of Life will be held on May 25 in Hendersonville, N.C.