David Kaplansky was on a recruiting trip when he walked into the Humboldt State University gymnasium in the summer of 1996. The only person there was a man dripping with sweat wearing board shorts and beat-up sneakers. Of course, it was Gene Cotter.
“The next thing you know, we’re playing 60 intense minutes of 1-on-1 basketball,” said Kaplansky, the longtime Spring Grove School P.E. teacher and Gavilan College men’s basketball coach. “That began a 20-year friendship.”
Cotter, 44, died July 11 as a result of a vehicle accident. Cotter is survived by his wife, Tiffany, and their two children, Bailey, 10, and Brody, 9. Judging by the reactions from stories online and social media posts, the man simply known as “Geno” by many of his loved ones won’t soon be forgotten.
Cotter, who founded the immensely popular Basketball Jones Hoop Camps, was as influential a figure San Benito County has had in recent memory. Last Saturday, hundreds of people gathered at Mattson Gym to celebrate the life of Cotter. Over the years, youths participated in droves in his camps, which had locations in Hollister, Humboldt, San Jose, Napa, Gilroy, Carmel, Aptos, Salinas and Santa Cruz.
A beloved figure, Cotter affected countless people with his positive outlook, energy, generosity and passion for basketball. A hoops lifer to the end, Cotter more than held his own as he played in men’s basketball leagues throughout the area.
“Geno would play anywhere, anytime and he was the ultimate gym rat,” Kaplansky said. “There was no one like him. His legacy is not just here—it’s everywhere.”
Indeed, Cotter first made his mark in the Humboldt area, attending high school at South Fork before moving on to College of the Redwoods and then Holy Names University in Oakland. In addition to his basketball exploits, Cotter was passionate about running and surfing.
Cotter qualified for the CIF State Cross-Country Championships from 1987 to 1989, finishing 13th in the Division III race. The Cotters moved to Hollister in 2004.
“He was still running marathons and surfing in the morning,” Kaplansky said. “I always felt like I was the hardest worker and most competitive person until I met Geno.”
Indeed, Cotter’s will to compete was legendary. San Benito High School Assistant Principal Jeremy Dirks was one of Cotter’s best friends, and relayed a conversation the two had recently that pretty summed up Cotter’s intensity and what made him tick.
“We were hanging out and I asked him how his mom (Emma Turney) was doing,” Dirks said. “He said, ‘She’s doing fine, and I just helped her roof the house. I had her on the roof. If I don’t make her do that, she’s going to get soft. And no one in my family is going to get soft.’ I confirmed it with his mom. She’s tough and fiery, and that’s where Geno got his toughness from.”
Former Free Lance Sports Editor Nathan Mixter had dozens of conversations with Cotter over the years, first as a journalist and later as a fellow player in local pick-up games. Mixter had a fond appreciation for Cotter’s ability to coach people during a game, mostly after Cotter had scored on them or shut them down defensively.
“He was always talking during the game,” Mixter said. “He would yell at you, but give you a hug at the end. You would think he was mad at you during the game, but he wasn’t. He used to yell at me a lot—that’s because I wasn’t very good and he wanted to make you better.”
Those who knew Cotter said he was incredibly knowledgeable on all things basketball. According to Cotter’s oldest brother, Ed, the Basketball Jones Hoop Camps guru put on ball-handling demonstrations for the Stanford University basketball team.
When Cotter was living in Oakland during his college years, Ed said former NBA player Nate Robinson—who was 10 or 11 at the time—would come to Cotter’s house and play for hours. Whether it was in pick-up games or in camps, Cotter was always teaching people nuances of the game.
“He had a really good idea of spacing on the court,” Mixter said. “He could find anyone open and make them a better player.”
Cotter used basketball to affect countless people. His camps grew because kids and parents loved his relentless energy, passion and generosity.
“It was a true blessing to know him because he always found a way to lift people’s spirits,” Kaplansky said. “He was the guy who believed in you when you didn’t believe in yourself. His energy and enthusiasm for the game was contagious. He was a beautiful character. He’s a legend in the Humboldt area.”
Of that there is no doubt. The headline in the Redwood Times-Standard said it all:
“South Fork basketball legend killed in car crash.”
“Geno has also left a remarkable legacy here in Hollister, especially for the youth,” Kaplansky said. “I’ve watched him inspire young children and make basketball more popular in this town. He was a bottle of energy and a true one-of-a-kind. His love for the game was unprecedented.”
