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Nick Saban ‘looking forward to rooting’ for Scott Cochran at West Alabama

When Nick Saban first landed in Tuscaloosa to become Alabama‘s next head football coach in Jan. 2007, one of his first calls was to Scott Cochran. The then-New Orleans Hornets assistant strength coach jumped at the opportunity to spearhead the Crimson Tide strength program and quickly became an integral figure in Alabama’s rapid return to national prominence.

It wasn’t long before “Coach Yeah” — Cochran’s nickname due to his repetetive “YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!” scream — made his own raspy, Cajun delivery a key part of a Tide program that would win six national championships in 17 seasons under Saban, the first five with Cochran as its emotionally-charged strength coach.

Now, with Saban entering his second full college football season as a retiree, and Cochran set to begin his own head coaching tenure at West Alabama this upcoming season, the NCAA’s only seven-time national championship-winning coach is eager to cheer on his former strength coach for once.

“He’s going to have an opportunity to be successful. I know he has a lot of our former players on his staff, so I’m really watching and looking forward to rooting for ‘em,” Saban said Monday night at the Nick Saban Legacy Award Ceremony in Birmingham, “and (I) hope they all have a chance to be successful, and can launch their careers – not only him as a head coach, but also some of his assistants who played for us at Alabama.

“I think Coach Cochran’s enthusiasm, his knowledge, what he’s learned though the years, what he’s had to overcome, are all going to be things that are beneficial to him helping develop people within in organization.”

As Saban said, Cochran utilized his longstanding connections to Alabama to build up his West Alabama staff, hiring a litany of former Crimson Tide players for various roles. Among the Alabama football alums now in West Alabama gear include: former running backs Ronnie Clark (running backs coach) and Bo Scarbrough (director of high school relations), former long snapper Thomas Fletcher (special teams coordinator), former defensive lineman Damion Square (defensive line coach), and former tight end OJ Howard (director of player development).

Former Crimson Tide star OJ Howard accepts job at West Alabama as Director of Player Development

Former Crimson Tide tight end OJ Howard has accepted a coaching job with West Alabama, the school announced on Tuesday. Howard will serve as the Director of Player Development as he steps away from the playing field.

There is a connection between Howard and the program. West Alabama recently hired Scott Cochran to be their head coach, Alabama’s former strength and conditioning coach. After spending some time together in Tuscaloosa, they will now help build up the Tigers.

“We’re thrilled to welcome another Alabama Football legend and NFL Champion, O.J. Howard,” Cochran said in a statement. “O.J. was an outstanding athlete at Alabama, earning a first-round NFL Draft selection, but what truly set him apart was his leadership. He is a leader of men, and that’s exactly why he’s the perfect fit for this role. … O.J. has excelled at every level of football. I can’t wait to get him here and around the group that we have.”

Howard was most well-known for performing during Alabama’s biggest games, specifically the national championship. Only twice did Howard break the 100-yard mark in his career and both came against Clemson.

His five receptions for 208 yards and two touchdowns were enough to help win the Crimson Tide the College Football Playoff. And despite a losing effort the following year, Howard still had 106 yards and a touchdown on four catches.