Upcoming Event: Football at Cal on October 4, 2025 at 10:30 p.m.
/
10:30 p.m.
Football
at Cal
Football
Tanner Cotman
- Title:
- Quality Control Coordinator/Defense
- Email:
- DukeFBRecruiting@duke.edu
- Phone:
- (919) 684-2635
Tanner Cotman joined the Duke coaching staff in February 2022, and serves as a defensive quality control coach working primarily with the cornerbacks.
In his first season with the Blue Devils, Cotman helped mentored Chandler Rivers to Freshman All-America honors after the Beaumont, Texas, native compiled 52 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one interception, six pass breakups, two quarterback pressures and one blocked kick during his rookie campaign. Cotman also helped in the development of Joshua Pickett who recorded 41 tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks and a team-best seven pass breakups during his first year as a Duke starter.Â
Cotman came to Durham after spending the 2021 season as the safeties coach and video coordinator at Norfolk State University. Working under first-year head coach Dawson Odums, Cotman helped the Spartans to a 6-5 ledger last season. He also mentored Stuart Anderson Jr. to Third Team All-MEAC honors after the Mathews, Va., native recorded 38 tackles, 1.5 tackle for loss, two interceptions and one pass breakup.
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Prior to that, Cotman spent the 2020 season as a defensive graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan University, working primarily with the safeties.
Before joining the Eagles’ staff, Cotman spent seven years (2013-19) working at his alma mater Old Dominion University, first as a student assistant (2013-16) and then as a graduate assistant (2017-19). His time with the Monarchs was focused on the defensive side of the ball, primarily with safeties and linebackers.
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Cotman helped the Monarchs in 2019 improve from a defensive ranking of 118 to 45, and mentored linebacker Lawrence Garner to Second Team All-Conference USA honors after he finished second in the league with 9.2 tackles per game.
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In 2016, Cotman was on staff when the Monarchs ended the year with a 10-3 record, including an appearance in the program’s first bowl game – a 24-20 victory over Eastern Michigan University in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
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Cotman graduated from Old Dominion in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He later added a master’s degree in coaching education from the University in 2020.
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In his first season with the Blue Devils, Cotman helped mentored Chandler Rivers to Freshman All-America honors after the Beaumont, Texas, native compiled 52 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one interception, six pass breakups, two quarterback pressures and one blocked kick during his rookie campaign. Cotman also helped in the development of Joshua Pickett who recorded 41 tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks and a team-best seven pass breakups during his first year as a Duke starter.Â
Cotman came to Durham after spending the 2021 season as the safeties coach and video coordinator at Norfolk State University. Working under first-year head coach Dawson Odums, Cotman helped the Spartans to a 6-5 ledger last season. He also mentored Stuart Anderson Jr. to Third Team All-MEAC honors after the Mathews, Va., native recorded 38 tackles, 1.5 tackle for loss, two interceptions and one pass breakup.
Â
Prior to that, Cotman spent the 2020 season as a defensive graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan University, working primarily with the safeties.
Before joining the Eagles’ staff, Cotman spent seven years (2013-19) working at his alma mater Old Dominion University, first as a student assistant (2013-16) and then as a graduate assistant (2017-19). His time with the Monarchs was focused on the defensive side of the ball, primarily with safeties and linebackers.
Â
Cotman helped the Monarchs in 2019 improve from a defensive ranking of 118 to 45, and mentored linebacker Lawrence Garner to Second Team All-Conference USA honors after he finished second in the league with 9.2 tackles per game.
Â
In 2016, Cotman was on staff when the Monarchs ended the year with a 10-3 record, including an appearance in the program’s first bowl game – a 24-20 victory over Eastern Michigan University in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
Â
Cotman graduated from Old Dominion in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He later added a master’s degree in coaching education from the University in 2020.
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Coach Diaz Media Availability: Cal
Wednesday, October 01
Bruno Fina Media Availability: Cal
Tuesday, September 30
Tre Freeman Media Availability: Cal
Tuesday, September 30
Coach Brewer Press Conference: Cal
Monday, September 29
