Former <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/georgia-bulldogs/">Georgia</a> special teams coordinator <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/scott-cochran-131473/">Scott Cochran</a> has been around the block, winning championships with multiple programs during his stint as a leader of young men.



He was at <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/alabama-crimson-tide/">Alabama</a> during the height of the <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/nick-saban-133646/">Nick Saban</a> dynasty, a key piece in molding the building blocks for Saban as he reigned terror on the Southeastern Conference. Then he did at at Georgia, winning it all in a different capacity.



Now he’s in an altogether different role, <a href="https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/former-uga-coachs-addiction-group-launches-at-georgia-capitol/6IUTCNKYWFGARBHJ2IUCMUHJQU/">launching an addiction recovery advocacy group</a>. As part of his work, he’s made himself available to teams and organizations to talk about the pitfalls he himself went through as an addict.



How does he do it?



“When I speak to teams and groups and stuff, it’s very simple to me,” Cochran said on Thursday on the Paul Finebaum Show. “You get on their level. You talk to them and find out more about them. And kind of forget the overall mission, right?”



By forget the overall mission, Cochran means getting even more granular with the players. It doesn’t have to be about winning this game on the schedule or converting on this drive within a game.



It’s even more simple than that. It goes to the Saban way of winning every opportunity you get. Sometimes that can even mean seeking help.



“Because every player I’ve coached they want to play in the NFL, they want to be the first pick in the draft, they want to win a national championship, right?” Cochran said. “But if you get on their level and you have a real conversation and say, ‘Hey, how are you doing handling all the exterior? How’s mama doing? And you have an uncle or a dad telling you you’re not getting enough playing time, let’s call them. Let’s have a conversation.’ I think it just takes time.”



But if you want to get real with players, you have to be real with them. That’s the message Cochran gives to coaches when he meets with them these days.



“You have to build a relationship with them,” Cochran said. “And seeing them on their level, all the sudden whatever you put in front of them it gets knocked down.”

Scott Cochran

On3 Football

Scott Cochran explains how he relates to today's players

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