Scott Cochran Returns to Coaching Football

Livingston, Ala. - A familiar face is returning to the state of Alabama to coach football, with Scott Cochran being named the new head football coach at the University of West Alabama.

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Cochran is one of the most decorated coaches in college football and a long-time coach in the SEC. He is most known for his "Coach Yeah" personality in the Alabama locker room, spending 12 years as the Alabama football strength and conditioning coach from 2007-2019. Cochran was one of the main orchestrators of the Nick Saban dynasty at Alabama, helping Alabama win six national championships during his tenure in Tuscaloosa.

Following his time at Alabama, Cochran was the special teams coach for the Georgia Bulldogs, where he was a member of Kirby Smart's staff and won back-to-back national championships.

Cochran was also a graduate assistant and an assistant strength and conditioning coach for Nick Saban at LSU, where Saban led the Tigers to the BCS National Championship game in 2003.

Cochran has developed over 50 athletes who became first-round picks in the NFL draft, and more than 200 who were drafted into the NFL.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome Coach Scott Cochran to the University of West Alabama," said UWA president Dr. Todd G. Fritch in a press release on Monday. "His dynamic coaching style, combined with his dedication to fostering both athletic and academic excellence, aligns perfectly with our values. We are confident that he will build on our program's strong foundation and lead our student-athletes to success on and off the field."

"I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the University of West Alabama football program as head coach," Cochran said of his being hired. "UWA has a rich tradition of athletic excellence, and I look forward to working with our talented student-athletes, dedicated staff, and passionate community to continue that legacy. Together, we will strive for greatness and make our supporters proud."

He added, "My own personal struggles have given me a unique perspective that allows me to expertly develop players and prepare them to go to the next level. I get to know players better than they know themselves, and I feel that I have something to give back through head coaching. This is more than just a job for me; it's a calling to help young men grow both on and off the field."

Since his coaching days, Cochran has been an advocate for Eliminate the Whisper and the American Addiction Recovery Association. an organization built around eliminating the stigma around addiction and recovery.

Cochran will now return to the sidelines, just 62 miles from the University of Alabama, where he learned everything he is incredibly talented at.

The University of West Alabama went 9-2 in 2024 and made the NCAA Division II Playoffs. However, it lost to Lenoir-Rhyne University in the playoffs.

Brett Gilliland, the previous head coach at UWA from 2014-2024, was named the Interim Athletic Director in June 2024, also serving as the head football coach. Now, Gilliland is the long-term Athletic Director with Cochran as his head football coach.

Wyatt Fulton is the TIde 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.