Chris Cota began his career at College of the Canyons as right fielder for the Cougars in 1985 and 1986. He starred on the 1986 squad that won the state championship, the last COC team to accomplish that feat.
In 1986, he was drafted and signed by the Chicago White Sox. He played four seasons in the White Sox and California Angels organizations.
He served as an assistant coach under longtime head coach Len Mohney for 10 years before he was named as Mohney's replacement after the 2000 season. Aside from Mohney himself, there are few coaches who can match Cota's knowledge about the Cougar baseball tradition.
In his first season as coach of the Cougars, Cota guided the team to a 21-19 record. They ended the 2001 season with a nine-game winning streak.
In the past 11 seasons, Cota has amassed a 252-194-2 record and has captured the Western State Conference title four times, in 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2009. In each of these seasons, Cota was named WSC Coach of the Year.
Cota, who graduated from nearby Saugus High School in 1983, received a bachelor's degree in physical education from California State Northridge in 1994. He also received a master's degree in education, with an emphasis on physical education, from Azusa Pacific in 1995.
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