STARKVILLE — In a year littered with notable Mississippi State stories, none was bigger than John Cohen.
Cohen began 2016 as the MSU baseball coach. With several upperclassmen, junior college transfers, and freshmen stepping in right away, Cohen led the Bulldogs to a Southeastern Conference regular-season championship for the first time since 1989. He also helped the Bulldogs earn the No. 6 national seed and host a super regional, falling two games short of advancing to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
In the offseason, Cohen was given a four-year contract extension and added the title of associate athletic director. Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin left for the same position at Florida in September after serving at his alma mater for six years. Cohen was named MSU’s new director of athletics Nov. 4. The decision is The Dispatch’s top MSU story of 2016.
“I love our baseball program, but more than that I love Mississippi State University, all of our coaches, athletes, and student body,” Cohen said when he was introduced as the MSU director of athletics in November. “I have the great privilege of speaking on this campus a great deal, and when I approach young people on this campus I always tell them the same thing: our administration at Mississippi State and (MSU President) Dr. (Mark) Keenum have provided all of these opportunities and incredible experiences on our campus.”
Cohen spent eight seasons as MSU baseball coach. He spent 17 seasons as a head coach at Northwestern State, Kentucky, and MSU and compiled a 605-399-1 record.
After what Keenum described as a “long and exhaustive process” to find Stricklin’s replacement, there was only one choice.
“I am confident and very convinced we have found the right leader to lead Mississippi State athletics,” Keenum said. “I want us, year in and year out, to be competitive and competing for conference and national championships and winning conference and national championships.”
Cohen didn’t waste much time when it came to finding his replacement. A day after taking over in his new capacity, he announced the hiring of former LSU assistant coach Andy Cannizaro as MSU’s new baseball coach.
Interim Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee announced women’s soccer coach Aaron Gordon was relieved his of his coaching duties and reassigned in the athletic department after compiling a 17-52-3 record in four seasons. Cohen announced the hiring of new women’s soccer coach Tom Anagnost earlier this month.
Cohen attended several MSU sporting events in his new capacity, including men’s and women’s basketball games, the football team’s 55-20 victory against Ole Miss in the Battle for the Golden Egg, and the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Indiana, last month to see the women’s team finish 15th — the highest in school history.
Cohen feels he has been working toward this moment for most of his career.
“I majored in English literature at Mississippi State, and I can’t think of anything better to prepare yourself for something like this,” Cohen said. “I did get a master’s degree in sport management at the University of Missouri. I don’t think anything can prepare you for the experience you have with young men over the course of 25 years and young women. I think it’s a blessing to have kids. My own kids are in college, and it has really changed my perspective about the way we treat young people in college, what they are going in through and the experiences they are having. I feel like my background is pretty good with what we are trying to do at Mississippi State.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
LIST:
1. John Cohen named new director of athletics
2. Scott Stricklin leaves alma mater to become new Florida director of athletics
3. Andy Cannizaro hired as new baseball coach
4. Baseball team earns national seed for first time and host super regional
5. Women’s basketball team makes Sweet Sixteen for first time since 2010
6. Football team makes school-record seventh-straight bowl appearance
7. Women’s cross country team wins South Regional Championship for first time
T8. Women’s track and field athlete Marta Freitas wins NCAA 1,500-meter title
T8. Men’s track and field athlete Curtis Thompson wins NCAA javelin title
10. Softball moves into Nusz Park and plays host to the Southeastern Conference tournament for first time
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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