We are set to speak with new athletic director John Cohen here in 15 or so minutes at his introductory press conference.
Follow along for all updates.
President Christopher Roberts
- Thanks Rich McGlynn for his work during the transition period.
- Expressed his gratitude for the coaches, staff and media for being here.
- Was looking for someone with previous experience as an AD, especially in a Power 5 position and in the SEC, that knows the area.
- Also looking for a candidate that came highly recommended as a person and a leader.
- Cohen has over 20 years of experience in the SEC at four different schools.
- "John is incredibly intelligent. He's a strong leader. He's highly motivated and he has incredible vision."
- Served as the chair of the NCAA baseball selection committee
John Cohen
- Thank you to Dr. Roberts "I don't think Auburn could be in better hands."
- Thanks the Auburn family.
- Thanks his 91-year-old mother who is now getting used to donning the blue and orange in Tuscaloosa.
- What is his purpose? "It is to serve the Auburn family and Dr. Chris Roberts. I want to assure that every student-athlete has a positive and productive experience at Auburn University."
- One of his favorite things is a student-athlete coming back in 10-20 years and saying, "I get it."
- Goal is to put Auburn in position to win SEC and national championships.
- Mentions the Auburn creed. (That was the free space on everyone's BINGO card.)
- Wants to highlight Rich McGlynn, who has been a star for this university and the SEC.
- "I know that this signal (AU lapel pin) will be recognized at every airport in the country."
- "This is a big why for me. I have seen the common refrain: Auburn being Auburn. As someone who has been on the outside, Auburn being Auburn is a special thing."
- "Three Heisman trophy winners is Auburn being Auburn."
- "I'm not a pressure guy. I see opportunity." - Cohen on my question on if he has ever had a bigger hire to start a job. Also, he has never shared a hot tub with a coach that he knows of.
- Auburn is the seventh SEC city that Cohen has lived in. "I got to work with Jeremy Foley. I got to work with Mitch Barnhart." - Mentions Greg Byrne, Alabama's AD, is a close friend. "Am I allowed to say that?"
- "This is a very, very long process. I have 58 things on this piece of paper that we have to go through." - on his hiring process for the football coach
- Approach to NIL: "Now that it has started, we have to be upfront. We have to be aggressive. It is the way of the world."
- On the last couple of weeks: "It's been emotional. Leaving your alma mater is difficult. There's a passion there. But this is Auburn, and I spent the first five minutes speaking to you on my why. Auburn is a national brand."
- "Certainly we have those discussion and yes, the final decision will be my own when it comes to hiring in the athletic department." - on conversation on full control of hiring. Says he still wants all the information.
- "Everything is on the table. I'm not going to get into dates or times." - On football hire
- On learning from hiring process of football coach: "I'm going to drop a cliche. And I'm going to drop the f word: fit. What is a fit for Mississippi State is different than what a fit is at Auburn University."
- On using search firm? "We will use a search firm strictly for logistics purposes. They won't give us names but will help us with background searches."
- "I think I do." - on if he still uses a coaching mentality to his job. Mentions he was in the locker room last night at halftime when Bruce came in. "I've seen that look," Cohen said with a laugh.
- On factor of choosing a coach: "You have a couple of hours? There's a little bit of analytics. There's a gut feel."
- Calls Butch Thompson's beard "Ernest Hemingway-like."
- "I believe this is the best rivalry in college athletics." - on Auburn-Alabama
- On biggest challenge for all ADs in SEC: "The unknown. Who is going to govern moving forward?"
That is all for Cohen.
Follow along for all updates.
President Christopher Roberts
- Thanks Rich McGlynn for his work during the transition period.
- Expressed his gratitude for the coaches, staff and media for being here.
- Was looking for someone with previous experience as an AD, especially in a Power 5 position and in the SEC, that knows the area.
- Also looking for a candidate that came highly recommended as a person and a leader.
- Cohen has over 20 years of experience in the SEC at four different schools.
- "John is incredibly intelligent. He's a strong leader. He's highly motivated and he has incredible vision."
- Served as the chair of the NCAA baseball selection committee
John Cohen
- Thank you to Dr. Roberts "I don't think Auburn could be in better hands."
- Thanks the Auburn family.
- Thanks his 91-year-old mother who is now getting used to donning the blue and orange in Tuscaloosa.
- What is his purpose? "It is to serve the Auburn family and Dr. Chris Roberts. I want to assure that every student-athlete has a positive and productive experience at Auburn University."
- One of his favorite things is a student-athlete coming back in 10-20 years and saying, "I get it."
- Goal is to put Auburn in position to win SEC and national championships.
- Mentions the Auburn creed. (That was the free space on everyone's BINGO card.)
- Wants to highlight Rich McGlynn, who has been a star for this university and the SEC.
- "I know that this signal (AU lapel pin) will be recognized at every airport in the country."
- "This is a big why for me. I have seen the common refrain: Auburn being Auburn. As someone who has been on the outside, Auburn being Auburn is a special thing."
- "Three Heisman trophy winners is Auburn being Auburn."
- "I'm not a pressure guy. I see opportunity." - Cohen on my question on if he has ever had a bigger hire to start a job. Also, he has never shared a hot tub with a coach that he knows of.
- Auburn is the seventh SEC city that Cohen has lived in. "I got to work with Jeremy Foley. I got to work with Mitch Barnhart." - Mentions Greg Byrne, Alabama's AD, is a close friend. "Am I allowed to say that?"
- "This is a very, very long process. I have 58 things on this piece of paper that we have to go through." - on his hiring process for the football coach
- Approach to NIL: "Now that it has started, we have to be upfront. We have to be aggressive. It is the way of the world."
- On the last couple of weeks: "It's been emotional. Leaving your alma mater is difficult. There's a passion there. But this is Auburn, and I spent the first five minutes speaking to you on my why. Auburn is a national brand."
- "Certainly we have those discussion and yes, the final decision will be my own when it comes to hiring in the athletic department." - on conversation on full control of hiring. Says he still wants all the information.
- "Everything is on the table. I'm not going to get into dates or times." - On football hire
- On learning from hiring process of football coach: "I'm going to drop a cliche. And I'm going to drop the f word: fit. What is a fit for Mississippi State is different than what a fit is at Auburn University."
- On using search firm? "We will use a search firm strictly for logistics purposes. They won't give us names but will help us with background searches."
- "I think I do." - on if he still uses a coaching mentality to his job. Mentions he was in the locker room last night at halftime when Bruce came in. "I've seen that look," Cohen said with a laugh.
- On factor of choosing a coach: "You have a couple of hours? There's a little bit of analytics. There's a gut feel."
- Calls Butch Thompson's beard "Ernest Hemingway-like."
- "I believe this is the best rivalry in college athletics." - on Auburn-Alabama
- On biggest challenge for all ADs in SEC: "The unknown. Who is going to govern moving forward?"
That is all for Cohen.
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