Cochran named Interim Athletic Director

TAHLEQUAH Matt Cochran, a Northeastern State University graduate who has served as Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operation since 2002, will become NSU Interim Athletic Director effective October 1.

In appointing Cochran to fill the duties of the temporary position, NSU President Dr. Don Betz cited his service to NSU Athletics and long-term commitment to the institution.

Matt has been a key member of the athletic department and a well-respected decision maker during his time at NSU, Betz said. He will offer our athletic programs consistency and stability as we commence and complete the search for the next athletic director.

A committee led by Dr. Ron Cambiano, Assistant to the President for Special Projects and member of the College of Education faculty, will be appointed soon to conduct a timely, open and nationwide search, Betz said.

Cochran will assume the interim directorship upon the retirement of Eddie Griffin, who announced last month he has accepted the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Jim Thorpe Association and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

Cochrans association at NSU began in 1972, when his father, Bill Cochran, was named to lead the universitys safety and driver education program. The elder Cochran later served as baseball coach from 1979 to 1984.

During that time, Matt pursued degree requirements to earn a bachelor of science in Accounting in 1986 and a master of Business Administration in 1991. He was named scholarship coordinator and financial aid counselor in the Office of Student Financial Services and later transferred to the Department of Athletics, where he began as compliance coordinator and served as chair of the Lone Star Conference Compliance Coordinators from 1998 to 2000 and 2002 to 2003. He became Assistant Athletic Director in 1998.

In his current position, Cochran is responsible for the NCAA compliance program that supervises and monitors recruiting activities for a coaching staff of 10 varsity sports. He also oversees the operating and scholarship budgets for those sports, and monitors the eligibility and progress toward degrees of more than 250 student athletes annually.

In addition to his regular duties, Cochran is Director of the Athletic Association Golf Tournament, which raises more than $50,000 each year for the athletic department. He currently serves on the NCAA Division II Mens Golf South Central Regional Advisory Committee.

He is married to Dr. Teri Cochran, director of NSU Student Financial Services.

For more information about NSU Athletics, visit www.nsuoksports.com.

9/4/2008

Published: 2008-09-04 00:00:00