NFA’s Cotter to be inducted into the Connecticut Softball Hall
Jim Cotter learned he would be inducted into the Connecticut Scholastic and Collegiate Softball Hall of Fame late in 2019, as part of the Class of 2020. Then Cotter, the former head softball coach at Norwich Free Academy, had to wait, as the world came to a standstill due to COVID-19.
Finally, Cotter is on his way, driving north from his home in Suntree, Florida, to take his rightful place in the hall of fame. The induction ceremony will be held Sunday, May 15, at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.
"It was kind of like I was in but it faded," Cotter said in a telephone interview. "It's like I'm hearing about it all over again. I appreciate them thinking about me."
Cotter finished his 17 seasons at NFA 297-103 with a combined eight Eastern Connecticut Conference regular-season and tournament titles, six Class LL state tournament semifinals and the 2007 state championship game. He was named the National High School Athletic Coaches' Association
national coach of the year in 2009.
Cotter was a guidance counselor at NFA before leaving to become Fitch High School's Head of Student Services in 2008. Upon his move to Florida, Cotter continued for another three years as a guidance counselor in Brevard County and as a soccer referee, officiating for a total of 43 years.
He and his wife Ellen sold their home in Connecticut to become fulltime Florida residents, where they spend time watching their son, Sean, coach the softball team at Barry University in Miami.
"Even going back to my first year was 1992, trying to beat some of those good teams back then, Ledyard and East Lyme," Cotter said, looking back at his coaching career. "We had a 16-inning game ... scoring was difficult back then, it was just great pitchers. The game's come a long way.
"I was kind of going through a scrapbook. It did mean a lot. I think I was able to get my kids to want it and to believe in it a lot."
Cotter is a New London native who attended high school at St. Bernard and then Eastern Connecticut State University, where Eastern softball legend Clyde Washburne became his coaching mentor. Cotter began teaching at Plainfield High School and coached the Panthers' girls' basketball team to the 1985 Class M state championship game.
Cotter will be inducted along with Lyman Hall player Jenn Piazza Laffin, Fairfield University player Danielle (Fagnant) Scavone, Albertus Magnus coach Edward Emielita Jr., Jaspar "Joe" Arnone of Central Connecticut State University (honorary) and late veteran umpire Glenn N. Colburn. It will be the hall of fame's 31st induction ceremony.
“Even going back to my first year was 1992, trying to beat some of those good teams back then, Ledyard and East Lyme. We had a 16-inning game ... scoring was difficult back then, it was just great pitchers. The game's come a long way.
JIM COTTER, FORMER NFA SOFTBALL COACH