Fork Union Military Academy announced this week the hiring of a school counselor with more than two decades of experience, Dealton C. Cotton. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Cotton holds three degrees from East Carolina University. In addition, Cotton has extensive experience as a football and track coach, including a stint as an Assistant Head Football Coach at Old Dominion University.

"We are very pleased to have Dealton Cotton join our Academy as School Counselor for our Corps of Cadets," said the Academy's President, Colonel David L. Coggins, USMC (Ret.). "When you get the opportunity to hire a highly-credentialed school counselor with a wealth of experience working with high school students, who just also happens to be a sought after coach at the high school and college levels, it is a win-win."

Cotton played football at Granby High School in Norfolk, Virginia, and was a four-year letter man at East Carolina University, helping lead the Pirates to the 1992 Peach Bowl and the 1994 Liberty Bowl. Cotton earned his first bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from East Carolina University in 1995, followed by his Bachelor of Science in Social Work earned the following year in 1996. Cotton next received his master's degree in Social Work in 1998.

Cotton began his counseling career at New Bern High School in 1996, providing individual and family counseling. While at New Bern, Cotton also worked as an Assistant Coach in football and Head Track Coach.

Cotton returned to his alma mater, Granby High School, for a stint where he served as both School Counselor and Assistant Football Coach as well as Head Track Coach. Cotton was named Head Football Coach and School Counselor at Hertford County High School where he served for three years. He moved to Norfolk's Maury High School in 2004 where he accepted a position as Counselor and Dean of Students, and also served as Maury's Head Football Coach, earning Coach of the Year honors in 2005.

Cotton moved into coaching football at the college level in 2008 when he was named Defensive Line Coach and Assistant Head Coach at Old Dominion University. Cotton would remain at Old Dominion University's football program until 2013 when he was named the Head Football Coach at Norview High School in Norfolk, where he also served as Graduation Coach for students in the graduation cohort.

From 2014 to 2019, Cotton served as the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia. In six seasons at Norview, Cotton posted a record of 39-28 as head coach.

Since 2019, Cotton has worked as School Counselor and Head Football Coach at East Wake High School near Raleigh, North Carolina.