Kirby Smart updates the status of assistant coach Scott Cochran

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart addressed the latest on assistant coach Scott Cochran, who left the team this offseason for health reasons. According to Smart, the special teams coordinator is currently in Athens, Georgia, and “temporarily” back with the team.

“He’s home for a little bit visiting his family,” Smart said on Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference, per Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.

Smart also maintained his hope to retain Cochran once he is cleared to return full-time, which could come in the next couple weeks. Smart also clarified that any determination of Cochran’s on-field status with the team will be determined at a later date. And while there is no solid timetable for his return, it appears Smart is confident in Cochran’s ability to return to the program at some point.

Background

Georgia hired Cochran in February of 2020 after the departure of Scott Fountain. The 42-year-old former Alabama strength and conditioning coach had been searching for an on-field coaching job.

Cochran has been away from the Georgia program since mid-July, “dealing with health issues” and working on his mental health. During his absence, Scott Cochran has been replaced by former South Carolina and Florida head coach Will Muschamp, a defensive analyst with the program.

Muschamp is a former Georgia player who spent the past five seasons as the head coach at South Carolina. He was 55-51 as a head coach between his time at South Carolina and Florida, where he coached previously. Muschamp is a fellow member of the Nick Saban coaching tree, working as a defensive coordinator at LSU from 2001-04 and as associate head coach for the Miami Dolphins in 2005.

Georgia holds a 4-0 record early in the season, including a win over Clemson. The Bulldogs are heading into a Week Five matchup against No. 8 Arkansas, who has already upset two top 25 teams this season.

Statement from Kirby Smart

Kirby Smart previously made a statement at the time of Scott Cochran’s departure.

“I think it was critical,” said Smart. “We all deal with issues and problems within our own household, our own families, and those are personal things,”

He continued: “We’re a family here and our players have really embraced that. Our players have embraced the love, the affection, the struggles he’s going through. We love him. We love his family, we love his kids, we’re going to be there and support him and them just like they’re one of us. That doesn’t change. This team is very well connected, it’s very open and we have very intentional conversations at our night meetings. That’s something that we talk about across the board.”