Yes, Scott Cochran has heard from his old boss. After the longtime Alabama football strength and conditioning coach took the head coach job at West Alabama, he got a call from Nick Saban.
“Just congratulations,” Cochran said Friday of what Saban told him. “Just love. All love. Come on, I worked for the man 18 years. He is a father figure for me. Learned everything I have from him.”
The Tigers were looking for a man to replace new athletics director Brett Gilliland as head coach. Cochran was looking for a way back into the game after a year away.
Now, Cochran has his first head coaching job. After working for Saban during the seven-time national champion’s early tenures at both LSU and Alabama, there’s lessons he can apply immediately.
“I watched his press conference again,” Cochran said, referring to Saban’s introduction to Alabama in 2007. “And I almost verbatim said everything he said, but I was like, you know what, I can’t do that. But year. I remember year one at LSU, I remember year one at Alabama, and I just remember it being very difficult and a lot of stress. Those are things I remember and I’m just excited for that challenge.”
During his own introductory remarks, Cochran broke down the five DNA traits that he “learned from a guy right down the street.” Those included commitment, discipline, effort, toughness and pride.
He also remembered getting the call from Saban, asking Cochran to come to Alabama.
“I was like, ‘Come on, let’s go,’” Cochran said. “But he gave me my first shot as a 27-year-old, and y’all are giving me my first shot as a head coach, and I’m going to give you everything I have.”
Of course, there’s also things he won’t repeat from those early days at Alabama. Though, he wasn’t telling reporters what those were.
“For sure, yes,” Cochran said when asked if there were things he would handle differently. “The answer is yes. But I don’t want to get into it. I want to stay safe.”
Cochran said his famed fourth quarter program would begin Tuesday for Tiger players. He said he hoped Saban would come speak to the team at some point.
From his years at LSU, Alabama and Georgia, Cochran has eight national championships. He said during his introduction that his goal was to get 10.
“I know what the blueprint is, right? I’ve got the blueprint down pat, right?” Cochran said. “It’s kind of how I walk anyway. It’s what I’ve always done. So now just trying to implement that blueprint and do it the right way.”
