Jim Kotkas
Jim Kotkas, who currently lives in Lethbridge with his wife Darci and their two children Jay and Kara, is a talented baseball player who possesses a wealth of playing and coaching experience. He is currently the assistant coach of the Vauxhall Baseball Academy, a program designed to allow all students to fulfill their baseball and academic goals. The program provides the best coaching, training, and facilities needed for students to work towards baseball scholarships and/or professional aspirations.
His other coaching responsibilities have included hitting coach for the Lethbridge American Legion Baseball program (A' Miners) from 1992 until 1994. The following year he became the hitting coach for the AA' Lethbridge Elks where he remains today. In 1999 and 2004 he was voted as hitting coach of the year.
Jim has played at various levels throughout his lengthy career. In 1981, he was a member of the Canadian Junior National Team that participated in the World Friendship Series in Ohio. In 1985 he played in Edmonton's Intercontinental Cup as a member of the Canadian National team. Some of his other accolades include:
- Pan-Am Games at Indianapolis, Indiana; Intercontinental Cup, Havana, Cuba, 1987.
- Pre-Olympics Tournaments in the Netherlands and Japan; World Championships, Italy; Summer Olympics, Seoul, Korea, 1988.
- Pacific Cup, Taiwan, 1989.
- Goodwill Games, Seattle, Washington; World Championships, Edmonton, 1990.
- Pre- Pan Am Games, Netherlands; Pan Am Games, Havana, Cuba, 1991.
- Represented Canada at the inaugural World All-Star Game, Atlanta, Georgia, 1992.
Jim played college baseball in Twin Falls, Idaho. In 1987, he was a proud recipient of the Jimmy Rattlesnake Memorial Award for recognition in outstanding ability and sportsmanship on Canada's National team. In 1992, he was inducted into the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame.
