 Kotz played lacrosse at West Genesee High School, one of the premier high school teams in the country, along with notable Syracuse players, Tom Korrie and Jeff McCormick.Over more than forty years, West Genesee lacrosse teams have captured a total of 25 New York Section 3 titles and 15 New York State championships.Kotz' team went 24 and 0 while winning the New York high school state title in his senior season of 1981.