Hall of Fame
Sylvester Cottrell played basketball for the flyers from 1971 to 1973. Cottrell was recruited to play basketball for Lewis after successful careers at Joliet East High School and Joliet Junior College.
Cottrell was voted Most Valuable Player by his teammates in 1972 and 1973. He was named to the NAIA All District Basketball team the same years, as well as being voted to the All Midlands Conference first team.
in 1973 he received Honorable Mention NAIA All American honors and was named to the NAIA District 20 All Star Team.
He was named to the NAIA All District academic team the same year. In 1973 he was elected to Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.
Cottrell received the tag "chairman of the boards" for his uncanny ability to rebound. He is considered the greatest rebounder in Lewis basketball history. He holds Lewis records in single season rebound average with 15.8 rpg and the Lewis record for most rebounds in a single game with 31.
He was named to the Dean's List of Honor Students in 1972 and 1973. He was named a Distinguished Honoree of the Delta Epsilon Sigma Gamma Chi Chapter in 1986 and has been named to the Joliet Chapter of the NAACP as Role Model of the Year.
Cottrell has taught history at Joliet Central High School for 23 years. He served as freshman basketball coach for nine years as well as serving one year as varsity assistant basketball coach. He was recently inducted in to the Joliet Junior College Athletic Hall of Fame. Sylvester holds a bachelor of arts degree in Humanities, a Masters of Arts degree in Education and a Type 75 Administrative certificate, all from Lewis University.
