Chuck Cotter knows at the high school level that basic fundamentals of keeping things simple works the best.

"I think we are going to have a philosophy with the kids to hit the fast ball (primary pitch at the prep level) and put the ball in play. And defensively to knock the ball down in the field and not make the wild throwing errors trying to make something happen.

"We are going to be aggressive at the plate but a little more conservative with runners on the bases. We just want to try to get the job done. I just believe in keeping things simple at this level and not try to overdo things," he added.

Cotter follows his father’s basic philosophies regarding the sport of baseball and goes back to the way he was brought up playing it.

Born in Texas, he was raised in Los Alamos, N.M. His father, Chuck Sr., taught and coached there. So, it was only natural that junior would play for him and later follow in his footsteps and become a teacher. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Eastern New Mexico University.

He started his teaching and coaching career at Hobbs, N.M., and later went to back to teach and coach at Los Alamos. He moved to Safford, Ariz., before deciding the desert wasn’t for him and came to Cortez.

Cotter, 33, was hired this past July to be head varsity baseball coach and assistant football coach. He replaces Jeff Bollinger, whose contract was not renewed. Bollinger is now the head coach at Class 2A Ellicott.

"The biggest thing I want to do is to have a team that is competitive each time out. I don’t want to go places and have people ‘say Cortez baseball is an easy win.’ I don’t expect to win every game because we won’t but I want us to be right in there. I know it takes time to build a program. I want to give the kids the best opportunity," he added.

Cotter doesn’t want to make any predictions at this point because he doesn’t know exactly what personnel he will have out. The first official day of practice isn’t until Feb. 20. However, some players have been working out (pitchers and catchers) and a few others have been hitting indoors.

The Panthers will open the 2001 campaign at Shiprock, N.M., on March 12. They will compete in the Aztec (N.M.) Tournament March 15-17. They will travel back to New Mexico to play Piedra Vista (Farmington) on March 20 and then travel up the road to visit Dolores County March 22.

After Spring Break, the Panthers return to action and open the Southwest League season by hosting rival Durango April 3. They travel to meet Central of Grand Junction April 6 and visit Montrose April 17. Piedra Vista pays a visit to Cortez on April 10. They return to league play April 13 by hosting Grand Junction High and Fruita-Monument April 14. They travel to Grand Junction to play Fruita on April 20 and play GJHS April 21. The go to Durango on April 24 and then end the regular season by hosting Montrose and Central April 27-28, respectively.

Cotter plans to have a majority of the games back at Englehart Field (by Cortez Middle School) instead of at Parque de Vida. He said he would like a more permanent fence in right field and put a taller fence all the way around with a "Green Monster" ala Fenway Park in Boston in left field.

While Cotter has been a head wrestling coach, this is his first job as a head baseball coach.