On Monday, former Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen, 56, was announced as Auburn’s 16th athletic director, 66 days after former athletic director Allen Greene revealed he was stepping down.
"I'm extremely grateful to President Roberts for the opportunity to be the next director of athletics at Auburn University," Cohen said. "Auburn is an incredibly special place as is demonstrated by the hall of fame coaches and athletes that have been a part of its storied history. I understand the traditions and values at Auburn and look forward to continuing those traditions. I'm humbled and honored to be joining the Auburn family."
Before making the move to the Loveliest Village on the Plains, Cohen was announced as the Bulldogs’ 17th athletic director on Nov. 4, 2016. It was the first time Cohen had served as athletic director of any university.
During his time in Starkville, Cohen oversaw numerous renovations to athletics facilities, including a $68 million renovation of Dudy Noble Field and a $34.5 million renovation of Humphrey Coliseum, as well as the hiring of current Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach.
That experience factored into Auburn's decision to hire Cohen.
“John has a wealth of experience in college athletics, particularly in the Southeastern Conference and his resume and references are impeccable,” said Auburn University President Chris Roberts. “His leadership and success as a head coach and an athletic director speak for themselves. John will embrace Auburn and be a tremendous leader for our athletics program as we move forward.”
This comes at a time when the university is looking to extensively renovate Plainsman Park and undergo yet another head football coaching search after also announcing on Monday that now-former head coach Bryan Harsin was fired, less than two years into his tenure.
The lateral move within the SEC comes after a more than two-month-long nationwide search that was shrouded in secrecy and, at times, elicited frustration from fans online.
Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum confirmed Cohen's resignation Monday morning in a press release published on the Bulldogs' athletic department website.
"We thank John and Nelle for their long and dedicated service to MSU. In many ways, MSU is a victim of our own success in that several former MSU athletics directors have transitioned into similar roles at peer institutions in the Southeastern Conference," Keenum said in a press release.
Cohen's five-year contract with Auburn will see him make $1.5 million annually along with unreleased performance incentives and "assurances that he will operate his athletic department," according to Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated.
Before being considered at Auburn, Cohen's performance earned a contract extension that saw him ink a four-year deal in July 2022 that included an increase in pay to $1.1 million. That contract also included a $250,000 buyout that Auburn ultimately had to pay for his services.
In addition to his stint as athletic director, Cohen served as the head baseball coach for the Bulldogs from June 2008 until November 2016. Cohen also briefly acted as associate athletic director during the four months prior to his being named athletic director.
While head baseball coach, Cohen oversaw a renaissance of sorts of the program. During his final six seasons, he led Mississippi State to five NCAA Tournament appearances, three NCAA Super Regional appearances and a runner-up finish in the 2013 College World Series.
Prior to arriving in Starkville, Cohen was the head baseball coach at Northwestern State from 1998 to 2001 and Kentucky from 2004 to 2008, with a stop in between as assistant head coach at Florida from 2002 to 2003.
A Tuscaloosa, Ala. native and Mississippi State alumnus, Cohen was an outfielder for the Bulldogs from 1988 to 1990 after transferring from Birmingham-Southern in the fall of 1986.
To conclude his career in a Bulldogs uniform, Cohen earned first-team all-SEC honors as a senior and was ultimately selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 22nd round of the 1990 MLB Draft. He then went on to play for two years in the minor leagues within the Twins' organization.
Academically, Cohen graduated from Mississippi State with a degree in English in 1990, and later earned a master’s degree in sports management from Missouri in 1994.
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Daniel Schmidt, senior in journalism, is the assistant news editor for the Auburn Plainsman.
