East Central High School
1978 – 2016

Steve Cotherman graduated from Goshen High School in 1968, where he ran cross country, track, and played basketball. Influenced by high school coach Dean Slavens, Steve attended Ball State University and ran cross country and track from 1969 – 1972.

Upon graduation from Ball State, Cotherman was hired as a physical education instructor on the elementary level in the Sunman-Dearborn School Corp. Transferring to East Central High School in 1978, Steve became the assistant boys’ coach in 1979 and was the head boys track coach from 1980 until 2016. He also took over as head girls coach in 2003 -2016.

As boys track coach, his teams totaled 51 invitational championships, 19 conference titles, 19 sectional wins, and had 23 individual and 5 relay state qualifiers, including 2 individual state champions. His girl’s teams won 21 invitationals, 12 conference titles, 13 sectional championships, and had 10 individual and 11 relay state qualifiers.

Cotherman became the head boys and girls high school cross country coach at East Central in 1981. During his tenure, the combined boys’ and girls’ accomplishments include: 52 invitational championships, 12 conference titles, 4 sectional championships, and one state-qualifying individual girl to successive state meets.

Cotherman became active in the IATCCC in 1990, being named the sectional rep for his area. He served as vice-president and president of the association. After helping with the track-all-star meet while it was held in Indianapolis, Cotherman became an assistant coach for the Indiana men’s team for three years and the head coach seven years, from there he became the men’s team coordinator from 2007 – 2016.

Cotherman also serves on the Indiana Track and Field Clinic committee and has been awarded the IATCCC President’s Appreciation Award. He also earned the IATCCC Longevity Award for 40 years of coaching in Indiana.

He has received the Ball State Alumni Coach of the Year Award in cross country and track.