John Cohen addresses Tahaad Pettiford DUI: 'Auburn loves you'

Auburn athletic director John Cohen spoke to Tigers guard Tahaad Pettiford on Monday morning about his recent DUI arrest, according to Auburn Live’s Justin Hokanson. The conversation appears to be a positive one.

“”He’s a wonderful kid. We’ll wait and see how it plays out. Tahaad Pettiford is a great young man who comes from a great family,” Cohen told Hokanson.

In addition, Cohen told Pettiford that “Auburn loves you and we’re going to help you get through this.” Cohen said that he respected that Pettiford released his own statement owning up to his actions.

Pettiford was arrested on DUI charges in Lee County in the early hours of Saturday morning. According to the arrest record, alcohol was the substance related to the incident. His blood-alcohol level (BAC) was not reported, but because he is under the legal drinking age, having a BAC of 0.02% or higher is considered illegal in the state of Alabama.

“Last night, I made a serious mistake and one that I take full responsibility for,” Pettiford wrote. “My actions put myself and others at risk, and for that, I am deeply sorry. There is no excuse. To my family, teammates, coaches, and fans, I know I’ve let you down. I understand the disappointment and concern this has caused, and I want you to know that I’m taking this seriously. This is not who I am, and not who I will be.”

“I’m committed to learning from this moment and making meaningful, positive changes in my life. I’m grateful for the support and accountability of those around me, and I will work to earn back the trust I’ve lost.”

Pettiford is gearing up for his sophomore season with the Tigers, although a looming suspension looks likely. He tested the 2025 NBA Draft waters and drew interest from teams picking in the first round, but ultimately decided to withdraw and head back to college. 

He averaged 11.6 points per game, 3.0 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game across 38 appearances during the Tigers’ 2025 Final Four run. Pettiford started just one game during that stretch, but still averaged 22.9 minutes per game as a key player for the Tigers. His head coach at Auburn, Bruce Pearl, also released a statement on the matter.

“We are aware of the situation, and we will handle it internally with Tahaad and his family,” Pearl said, via ESPN’s Myron Medcalf following the arrest. “We take these matters seriously and will learn and grow from it moving forward.”

Before college, Pettiford was a four-star recruit according to the On3 Industry Ranking, which is 
a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He was the No. 31 overall player in the 2024 cycle, and the No. 4 point guard in the class.