Why Scott Cochran took Georgia job after 13 years at Alabama

September 23, 2008. It’s an afternoon Scott Cochran wanted to forget, or at least keep on the down-low around his new colleagues and players at Georgia. He remembers it vividly, however, and said “wow” with a smile at the very second a reporter recalled the moment.

Cochran was a young, rising coach at the time at 29 years old. He was in his second season as strength-and-conditioning coach at Alabama. Cochran is loud. He’s energetic and youthful. The farthest from hesitant to show it, too. Cochran helped prepare the eighth-ranked Crimson Tide for a primetime showdown against No. 3 Georgia at Sanford Stadium.

Cochran boisterously made his way around the practice field. Suddenly, he yelled a jab at Georgia and said, “They’re wearing black, because they’re going to their own (expletive) funeral.” There were no plans for that comment to go public, and it made for one of Cochran’s most-uneasy moments of his young career.

“I was scared to death,” Cochran told reporters. “Woo, I thought I was going to lose my job.”

He recalled the reaction from Alabama head coach Nick Saban and then-defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, now his boss at Georgia. They each said: “They don’t need motivation. You just gave it to them.”

Twelve years later (as the teams prepare to meet again in October, oddly enough), Cochran can laugh about the moment. Alabama beat Georgia on that evening 41-30 in what was a trouncing after a 31-0 lead at halftime.

Cochran has evolved significantly since that blunder. He spent 13 years with the Crimson Tide, emerging as one of college football’s trendy names.

He cherished his role as a weight-room guru, but had an on-field coaching role in the back of his mind over recent years. Rumors have floated around since 2015 that Smart approached Cochran to join his first staff in Athens. There were some reports of discussions with the New York Giants and Ole Miss, but the circumstances didn’t feel favorable for a young coach with a wife and three kids. Their roots were planted in Tuscaloosa. A few championships didn’t hurt the cause either.

Until February. That’s when Cochran’s time came to be Georgia’s special teams coach.

“I wanted to coach and found the best opportunity,” Cochran said. “... It was time for me to transition. There’s no time like the present.”

Georgia hired Cochran to fill one of many roles that became vacant after the 2019 season. Scott Fountain, the previous special teams coach, left the program to join former Bulldogs’ coach Sam Pittman on the Arkansas staff. Smart paired an open role with his perfect match. It’s potentially one that Georgia wanted for a while.

Smart and Cochran have known each other since working together — under Saban, once again — at LSU in 2004. Cochran has sought an on-field position for a while. He would’ve probably considered it had a chance arose at Alabama, but there’s a unique connection with what Smart offers.

“I wanted to work with someone who I see eye-to-eye with on a lot of things,” Cochran said. “I was in a good place. Now, I’m in a great place.”

Cochran doesn’t carry much experience within special teams. He gained an interest in 1998 when coaching at University Lab School in Louisiana, but strength-and-conditioning duties were intertwined with that. Once working as a graduate assistant at LSU in 2001, he found his niche in the weight room.

A new start at Georgia features a substantial challenge, one that Cochran welcomes after earning the apparent trust of Smart. Cochran has a full load of duties to develop and recruit a group of specialists and returners, so there’s no interference with Bulldogs’ strength-and-conditioning coach Scott Sinclair aside from the occasional advice.

Cochran has sought input from an “endless list” of mentors, singling out former colleagues who are now in the NFL, former coach Michael Haywood, Oregon special teams coach Bobby Williams and New York Giants head coach (former special teams coordinator) Joe Judge.

“I wore them out,” Cochran said. “I still wear them out. I’m always trying to find the perfect drill that leads to success.”

One quality — perhaps his strongest — that hasn’t faded through Cochran’s coaching years is his energy. He’s 41 years old, yet carries the jubilance of a 26-year-old coach who is in his first few years on the job. Cochran has a fun style of wit, holds honesty in dialogue with players, colleagues and even reporters.

He’s always been that way. Cochran, without hesitation, will bring tempo to a game or practice if it’s dragging. He referred to a reporter as “boss.” He offered a few laugh-drawing soundbites throughout his news conference. Such a demeanor allows Cochran to build relationships with players during recruiting, then continue development once they arrive on campus.

The current group of Bulldogs saw it from Cochran’s first day on the job. He hasn’t slowed down, either.

“Forget the practice field — in the hallway, he’s energetic,” offensive tackle Jamaree Salyer said. “You hear that voice and it just cracks me up. He does everything full go. He brings a whole other level of spirit to the team.”

For two decades, Cochran has made a weight room his home. He has spent time on practice fields, but hadn’t been able to take the step toward the lush green turf on Saturday afternoons. That’ll come on Sept. 26 when Georgia opens at Arkansas. Cochran’s dream will be realized — well, at least one progression toward it.

Cochran frequently has aspirations, the ultimate one to become an eventual head coach. For now, his first step comes in Athens, a place where he needed to transition. Cochran feels rejuvenated. But emotions might change during game week.

“Sleep?” Cochran said. “Come on, dawg. Who’s sleeping? It’s game week. You can’t eat. You can’t sleep. Come on. … I think nerves are part of it. If you’re not nervous or anxious, I don’t think it’s important to you.”

Georgia lured away one of the sport’s top, young coaches. Cochran is giddy with excitement to begin a new venture.

Cochran made another memorable comment to start his career at Georgia, too. This one celebrates a new job, though, and doesn’t threaten it.

“Just happy to be a Dawg, baby,” Cochran said with a wide-grinned smile.