Scott Cochran Shares His Battle with Addiction and Future Plans!
Scott Cochran, the former Alabama and Georgia football coach, recently opened up about the reason behind his abrupt departure from the Georgia football staff in February. Cochran, who had served on Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs staff since 2020, has now dedicated himself full-time to advocating for addiction recovery.
Cochran’s journey to advocacy stems from his personal struggle with addiction. In an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he revealed his dependence on painkillers, a battle that began during his tenure at Alabama and persisted after joining Georgia. Cochran’s addiction started as a way to manage migraines, leading to the abuse of prescription and illegal opiates, including the powerful painkiller fentanyl.
The turning point came in April 2020, when Cochran’s wife, Cissy, found him unconscious. This incident led him to seek help at a rehab facility in Massachusetts. Despite this, Cochran relapsed and continued using until June 2021, when he confessed his addiction to Georgia head coach Kirby Smart. Following this admission, Cochran returned to rehab and managed to stay sober for over two years.
However, Cochran faced another relapse during the 2023 season, prompting him to step down from his full-time coaching position to become a special teams analyst. In January, he returned to rehab and subsequently resigned from his role at Georgia in February.
Cochran’s experiences have propelled him into the realm of addiction advocacy. He has partnered with Jeff Breedlove, a Georgia politics veteran and fellow addiction survivor, to establish the American Addiction Recovery Association (AARA). Cochran serves as the president of AARA, while Breedlove is the CEO. The organization aims to advocate for improved addiction recovery programs in the private sector and secure funding for addiction recovery.
Reflecting on his battle with addiction, Cochran emphasized the importance of managing anxiety and nerves. He stated, “You always get butterflies. The key is to get them to fly in formation. But if you’re not nervous and anxious, I don’t think it’s important to you.”
The AARA seeks to amplify the voices of addicts and their families, advocating for better support and resources in the fight against addiction. Through his work with AARA, Cochran hopes to make a significant impact on addiction recovery on a national scale.
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