Georgia assistant coach Scott Cochran, who left the program for personal reasons in August, is back in the fold and Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart expects him resume a role within his staff in the near future. Cochran was Georgia’s special teams coordinator before last season and made significant strides on that side of the ball before stepping away last month.
“He’s actually in town right now, as we speak,” Smart said Wednesday on the SEC coaches teleconference. “He’s home for a little bit and visiting with his family and he’s with us temporarily and just seeing some friends and seeing some folks. Then he’ll hopefully join us in the next couple of weeks.”
Smart hired promoted former South Carolina coach Will Muschamp to an assistant role in Cochran’s absence. It’s unknown how Cochran will fit back into Smart’s staff when he’s back.
“We haven’t defined all that,” Smart said. “We’re worried about his family, his safety, and that, that’s not really a concern right now.”At the time of his exit in August, the university cited personal issues.
“Coach Cochran is currently dealing with health issues and is taking time to prioritize his mental health and well-being,” Smart said in a statement released via UGA Sports Information. “We fully support him as he takes this time to focus on his well-being.”
Under Cochran’s leadership, Jake Camarda was the SEC’s top punter at over 46 yards per boot. Jack Podlesny also had a strong season, connecting on 10 of 16 field goals. He also hit a 53-yard three-point try that gave Georgia a 24-21 win over Cincinnati in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl.
