Hall of Fame
Bob “Cotton” Staten played baseball and basketball at what was then Southern State College from 1953-1957. In basketball, Cotton lettered his final three years and helped the Muleriders win the NAIA Distrcit 17 Championship in 1957. In baseball, Cotton would be the epitome of a utility player as he played second base, shortstop, third base, and even spent time behind the plate as a catcher. In 1954, Cotton helped the Muleriders capture an AIC Championship outright and then in 1956, the Muleriders would share the AIC crown with Ozarks.
After his playing career was over, Cotton returned to Southern State in the fall of 1967 and served as the head baseball coach while also assisting with the Mulerider basketball and football programs as well. Cotton would be a multi-sport coach for three years before moving out of coaching in 1970.
In his first year as a coach in 1967-68, Cotton helped the school claim the AIC All-Sports Trophy after the football team posted a 5-3-1 record, basketball an 18-8 mark, and baseball a 16-10 record which was highlighted by an AIC Championship; the first since Cotton’s playing days.
For his efforts as head baseball coach in 1968, Cotton was named NAIA District 17 and NAIA Area V Coach of the Year.
Overall, as a head baseball coach, Cotton would amass a 43-38 record, but combined with his assistant coaching efforts in basketball and football, Cotton was a part of 105 wins over his three-year collegiate coaching career.
