Billy Cotts was named the Associate Head Athletic Trainer at Northern Arizona University during the summer of 2008. Along with covering men’s basketball, he assists in the day-day running of the athletic training room, coordinates drug testing, oversees graduate assistants with women’s soccer, swimming and diving and serves as the liaison between athletics and the athletic training education program.

During his first year at NAU, Cotts was the winner of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s 2009 Above & Beyond award, which recognizes exceptional performance in athletic training or non-athletic training activities during the previous year. The award came on the heels of Cotts being selected as part of the United States Track and Field staff for the 2009 IAA World Youth Championships in Bressanone, Italy.

Cotts had been serving at the Acting Head Athletic Trainer/Clinical Coordinator at Mesa State College (Grand Junction, Colo.) from 2005-08. During that time he oversaw football, men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling and golf. Along with his athletic responsibilities, he was an instructor for their ATEP and was the varsity weight room coordinator. From 2004-05 he was the Assistant Athletic Trainer. Prior to coming to Mesa State College, he was an assistant athletic trainer/strength coach at Weber State University from 2000-04.

Since 2001, Cotts has worked and volunteered with the following teams or organizations: USOC (Colorado Springs), 2002 Winter Olympics, USA Track & Field (Ekiden; Chiba, Japan, World Cross Country; New Delhi, India, Race Walking; La Corona, Spain), USA Men’s Field Hockey (Lanzhou, China), USA Rugby, Utah – Moscow Games, Las Vegas All-American Football Classic, RIC Sled Hockey, and 2001 Junior World Curling Championship.

Cotts graduated from Mesa State College in 1998 with a bachelor’s in Human Performance and Wellness and a minor in Biology. He completed his master’s degree in Athletic Training from Brigham Young University in 2002. He is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association, National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a Licensed Athletic Trainer in the state of Arizona.

Billy and his wife Nicole and two sons, Taylor (6) and Braylon (4).