Norfolk State University Athletics

Tanner Cotman is in his first season as safeties coach for the Norfolk State football program.

Cotman comes to NSU after serving as defensive graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan. He worked the safeties during his stint at EMU.

Prior to joining Eastern Michigan, Cotman spent six years working with the Old Dominion football program, first as a student assistant and then as a graduate student. All of his time with the Monarchs was focused on the defensive side of the ball, primarily with safeties and linebackers. His responsibilities at ODU ran the gamut from running drills in practice, to breaking down film and charting plays, to recruiting.

As a student assistant, Cotman was part of the staff that led ODU to its first-ever bowl game, a win in the 2016 Bahamas Bowl. The Monarchs won 10 games that season. Cotman also worked with a pair of all-conference performers during his tenure at ODU.

Cotman earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from ODU in 2016. He has taken graduate courses in physical education at ODU and in sports management from Eastern Michigan.