The SRU confirmed on Monday that Cotter will take over team affairs in June 2014, when his contract with Clermont Auvergne expires.
The 51-year-old was the SRU's top choice for the job and he will bring with him an impressive CV, which includes winning the French title in 2010.
As far as the Glasgow skipper is concerned, being able to land their number one target shows Scotland are a nation on the up.
He said: "His pedigree speaks for itself. He has an exceptional resume.
"I know enough about him to know he will be very good.
"We are in a very good place as far as moving forward is concerned.
"We finished third in the Six Nations and I think it's a good time for Scottish rugby.
"To get a head coach like that shows the position we are in."
The New Zealander will be on hand to assist interim head coach Scott Johnson and the coaching team with advice during the autumn Tests in November and the 2014 Six Nations Championship before taking on the role full-time.
Al added: "We will get to know what he is looking for us to do and that's probably the key thing when a new coach comes in.
"I'm sure he will come in with his own ideas and put them into place. We've got a fantastic team already.
"Vern will come in and hopefully we can keep taking steps forward."
For now, the Scots turn their attention to next month's four-team international tournament in South Africa.
Al said: "There are quite a lot of new caps, quite a lot of young lads coming in, so it will allow them to get experience as well which is exciting.
"It's a great place to tour, South Africa is a fantastic country and, to a man, every one of us is looking forward to getting over there.
"Samoa and South Africa are two of the most physical teams you will play against and then we will see what happens for the third game.
"The most important thing is to go there and keep the performance at the level it was at the Six Nations.
"If we are good enough on the day, we will win them."
The forward is one of a number of Glasgow players represented in the squad and he says their confidence will be high following a club season which saw the Warriors reach the RaboDirect PRO12 play-off semi-finals.
Al said: "We have to use the momentum we've built up over the season at club level.
"It's great to have so many of the Glasgow boys in this set-up. I expect them all to do incredibly well."
Flanker John Barclay, who will swap the Warriors for Welsh RaboDirect PRO12 rivals Scarlets this summer, will not be among that contingent after the SRU confirmed he needs surgery on a shoulder injury.
The SRU has also confirmed that Scotland's opening Autumn Test against Japan will be played at Murrayfield.
The match, on Saturday, November 9, with a 1430 BST kick-off, will be the fourth occasion the countries have met in a cap international.
Scotland have also played Japan five other times when caps were not awarded, most recently in 2010, as a precursor to the summer tour to Argentina when a Scotland XV won 24-5 in Edinburgh.
The November game against Japan is the first in a series which will see Scotland face South Africa on Sunday, November 17 (1500 BST), and Australia on Saturday, November 23 (1800 BST), also at Murrayfield.