BREAKING: UGA Football Announces Resignation of Scott Cochran

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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and UGA football announced Wednesday that special teams coordinator Scott Cochran and offensive analyst Darrell Dickey have resigned to pursue other opportunities.

"I want to thank Scott and Darrell for their contributions to Georgia football. We wish them all the best moving forward," Kirby said in a statement released by UGA. 

Kirk Benedict, who has served on Kirby Smart's staff as special teams analyst the last two seasons, will be promoted to special teams coordinator.

Cochran left the program just before the 2021 season to "prioritize his mental health." He returned to the program after the season. He had joined Kirby's staff from Alabama, where he was elevated as an on-field coach. 

“Coach Cochran is currently dealing with health issues and is taking time to prioritize his mental health and well-being,” Kirby said in a statement released by UGA in 2021. “We fully support him as he takes this time to focus on his well-being.” 

In his first year as an on-field coach, Cochran was part of a staff that led Georgia to its fourth consecutive top-10 finish in the final CFP rankings and fourth straight New Year’s Six Bowl game (Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory).  The 2020 senior class won 44 games—tied for most in school history.  In 2020, his specialists included punter Jake Camarda, first-team All-American and SEC Special Teams Player of the Year, and placekicker Jack Podlesny, who kicked the game-winning field goal with three seconds left to win the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl game over Cincinnati.  Georgia special teams finished the season ranked first in the SEC and 5th nationally in kickoff returns (29.7 ypr) and first in the SEC in kickoff coverage (41.8 net).

Smart and Cochran both began their careers at Alabama in 2007 and spent nine years together before Smart left to take his current position in Athens.  While at Alabama, Cochran implemented an offseason workout plan before spring practice each year, which included the well-known “Fourth Quarter Program” to help players develop physically and prepare for upcoming practices.

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