Coach Cotuno

Coach Cotuno is a level 4 USA Hockey Coach who is passionate about helping dedicated athletes pave their own paths in hockey.  He was fortunate to have many mentors on his road to college hockey and hopes to provide a few pearls of hockey wisdom in giving back to the youth.

Cotuno, a Chicago native, played a majority of his youth hockey for Team Illinois (AAA) captaining multiple teams.  Some of his favorite youth memories include playing in the Quebec Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament representing the Chicago Blackhawks, hoisting the Silver Stick in Sarnia, Ontario, and winning two Tier I National Championships (1994 | 1997).  In addition to his AAA accolades, as a Junior, he was also selected to the Illinois High School All-State Team and participated in the Chicago Showcase--a gathering of the top players across the country.  After Team Illinois, he spent a single year at Northwood School in Lake Placid, NY--his home rink being where USA infamously defeated the Russians in 1980.  After being recruited by Division I and III schools, he opted for a sure playing path with a top-20 team in the country at Williams College.  While at Williams, he was honored to be a Captain and participated in the D-III All-Star game in Plattsburgh, NY.

After migrating to Houston and starting a family, he began his coaching career as a director of the 8U and 10U Memorial City hockey programs and was an assistant coach for the 18UAA Houston Wild.  He moved on to becoming a head coach for his son’s 10UA and 10UAA Houston Wild teams and helped as an assistant at the 12UAA level.  In addition, he has spent three years running skating and skills stations at the 6 AM Friday Morning Clinic.