14 Facts About Barney Cotton

Barney Thomas Cotton was born on September 30,1956 and is an American football coach and former player.

Barney Cotton played his first two seasons as an offensive lineman, then spent the next season on the other side of the ball, playing defensive tackle.

Barney Cotton was a third-round pick in the 1979 NFL draft and played for one season with the Cincinnati Bengals before moving to the St Louis Cardinals.

Barney Cotton returned to Nebraska, completing a bachelor's degree in 1983.

Barney Cotton began his football coaching career in 1989 when he joined the staff at St Cloud State University as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, helping St Cloud State to a North Central Conference championship that same year.

Barney Cotton was a student of St Cloud State during his coaching career there, completing his master's degree in athletic administration during his last year as their coach in 1994.

In 1995, Barney Cotton was appointed as head coach for the first time in his career, back in his home state of Nebraska, at Hastings College.

In 1995, Hastings College won the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference championship and made an appearance in the NAIA playoffs, and Barney Cotton was named NIAC Coach of the Year.

Former Nebraska defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, who had been let go along with Barney Cotton following Solich's dismissal, was named Callahan's successor as head coach at Nebraska.

Barney Cotton was one of several assistants who had previously been associated with Nebraska who were brought back to the program, and he accepted Pelini's offer to return as offensive line coach and to take on the title of Assistant Head Coach, to draw upon his prior head coaching experience and assist Pelini with some of the administrative responsibilities of the head coaching position.

Barney Cotton remained in this role until the end of the 2012 season, when tight ends coach and run game coordinator were added to his responsibilities.

Barney Cotton began serving as the UNLV offensive coordinator and tight ends coach starting in 2015.

Barney Cotton resigned as offensive coordinator for UNLV, citing health reasons.

Barney Cotton has three children, all of whom have played football for Nebraska.