Chad Cota has never been a big fan of the San Francisco 49ers.

But he has no qualms about being aligned with one of that franchise’s greatest players.

Hall-of-Famer Ronnie Lott, who played safety for the 49ers for most of his 14-year career and is a partner in the Medford Mercedes-Benz dealership, has joined forces with Cota and the latter’s annual celebrity golf tournament.

The partnership is expected to enhance the star power of the Chad Cota-Ronnie Lott Celebrity Golf Shootout, scheduled for June 16 at the new Centennial Golf Club in southeast Medford.

"I’m really excited to get hooked up with Ronnie," said Cota, a former Ashland High and University of Oregon standout who also played safety for eight years in the NFL. "You can’t say enough about a guy of his caliber and what he brings with his reputation and how his playing career went. He’s a Hall-of-Famer and had all those great Super Bowl years.

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"He’s a good person who wants to get plugged into our community, and I’m real excited to have him be a part of this."

Cota and tournament director Jim Winans started the event two years ago, attracting the likes of football players Mike Vanderjagt, Neil Lomax and Chris Miller, baseball player Gorman Thomas, bowlers Marshall Holman and Pete Weber and actor Gregory Harrison.

With the influence of Lott, who, like Cota, will play in the tournament, the "A" list should see an immediate growth spurt.

Newcomers who have already confirmed are golfer Casey Martin, basketball players Luke Jackson and Darrell Imhoff, decathlete Dan O’Brien, football player Danny O’Neil and actor Justin Baldoni, who is from Medford.

Among those on Lott’s list of 15 invitees who have yet to confirm, said Winans, are football’s Junior Bryant, Daryle Lamonica and Dave Casper, baseball’s Bret Saberhagen, Chili Davis and Vince Coleman and basketball’s Truck Robinson.

The names of Emmitt Smith, Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson, Dan Fouts and Dave Wilcox have also been bandied about.

"It’s amazing how it has all come together," said Winans, who came up with the idea to approach Lott and Co. and gauge interest. "I was just shooting in the dark."

Cota and Winans met with Bob Mylenek, a partner and general manager of the dealership, and he was quickly sold on the idea.

"He loved the fact that the tournament is only 2 years old and we could grow this into something big," said Winans.

Mylenek also liked that the tournament benefits local programs geared toward kids, said Winans. Proceeds go to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, school athletics and the Bulldog Boxing Club.

Another charity, Lott’s own All Stars Helping Kids, has been added to the list. He founded the program in 1989.

The tournament was first held at Eagle Point Golf Course in 2004, then moved to Rogue Valley Country Club last year.

It will move to Centennial, said Winans, in part because it can be held on a Friday. The only day available at the country club was Monday, he said.

A dinner and fundraising auction will be held at Rogue Valley Country Club the night before the tournament.

Centennial, located off North Phoenix Road and near the Rogue Valley Manor, is scheduled to open May 20.