Dr. Cottrell has been a professor of Kinesiology and Health Promotion and Athletic Therapy at Sheridan College for the past 17 years.  His education includes an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, a Masters degree in Exercise Science from Northern Arizona University, a doctoral degree in Physiology from the University of Arizona, and postdoctoral work at Queen’s University. His expertise spans human physiology from cellular biochemistry to applied human performance with a current research focus on optimizing training interventions for maximal power performance. He has developed extensive curriculum in human performance coaching and developed coach education programs in Canada and the United States.

Dr. Cottrell has competed at the regional, national, and world level in five different strength sports, including; Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, strongman, highland games, and tug-of-war. Having been a competitive strength athlete and coach for over 25 years, he is able to apply advances in human performance research with competitive athletes from a variety of backgrounds.  As a strength coach at Northern Arizona University he oversaw programming of eight different varsity sports and was the lead physiologist at the High Altitude Sports Training Complex.  He has served as a strength and conditioning service provider for the Canadian Sports Institutes and Wrestling Canada overseeing Olympic athlete development, and spent two years in Texas working in performance development programs for professional (NFL, MLB, MLS) and amateur athletes.  In addition, he is a cofounder of the Canadian Strength and Conditioning Association.  Dr. Cottrell specializes in power development in athletes and has specific skill in youth athlete strength and power development.