Scott Cochran has added two more Alabama football champions to the West Alabama coaching staff.
Scott Cochran’s coaching journey has taken a significant and symbolic step forward with the addition of two former Alabama football champions to the West Alabama coaching staff, solidifying a culture of winning that is deeply rooted in experience, discipline, and a legacy of excellence. Cochran, long known for his passionate and charismatic presence during his years as Alabama’s strength and conditioning coach under Nick Saban, has become a figure of cultural transformation in the world of college football. With his recent moves at the University of West Alabama, he continues to shape a vision built not only on grit and development but on championship pedigree. These latest hires not only deepen the talent pool of the coaching staff but also reinforce the values that Cochran has always believed are non-negotiable—work ethic, mental toughness, and championship mentality.
The two additions to the West Alabama coaching staff are former Alabama players who both won national titles during their time under Nick Saban. These men bring more than just football expertise to the program; they bring with them the ethos of a dynasty. Having gone through the rigors of one of the most demanding programs in the nation, they understand the minute-by-minute discipline it takes to achieve greatness. Their familiarity with high expectations, relentless preparation, and accountability at the highest level of college football gives them an edge in reshaping a smaller program that aspires to punch far above its weight class. Their journey from the grandeur of the Southeastern Conference to the humble yet hungry program in Livingston, Alabama, is not a regression; it is a purposeful return to fundamentals where their impact can be more direct, more personal, and potentially even more transformative.
Cochran’s decision to bring these champions aboard was anything but symbolic. It was a calculated move that speaks volumes about his intent. Rather than chasing names or quick fixes, he is building a foundation rooted in trust, shared experiences, and cultural alignment. These men aren’t strangers parachuting into a new environment; they’re former warriors who have bled together in the trenches and celebrated on the grandest stage. There is a sense of authenticity in their message to young athletes at West Alabama because they have lived the climb. They understand the price of greatness, the moments of doubt, and the thrill of conquering doubt through perseverance. That credibility, rare and invaluable, can ignite belief in a locker room.
One of the most immediate effects these new coaches are expected to have is in recruiting. West Alabama isn’t competing for five-star athletes, but it doesn’t need to. What it can do, however, is change the perception of what it means to play at the Division II level. With former Alabama champions walking the sidelines, prospective recruits—especially from the Southeast—will see a program that values elite football knowledge and development. High school players with potential who may be overlooked by Power Five programs will now have a reason to take West Alabama seriously. Parents, too, will feel reassured knowing that their sons are learning from men who’ve reached the pinnacle of college football. This becomes an incredible narrative to sell: come to West Alabama, and you’ll be coached by champions who know exactly how to help you grow.
Another major implication of these hires is the internal development of current players. It’s one thing to be coached; it’s another to be mentored by someone who has stood exactly where you stand, faced the same challenges, and overcome them. These former Alabama players bring with them a blueprint for success. From daily habits to film study, from strength training to leadership on the field, they embody the championship lifestyle in all its nuances. Their mere presence in practice, their language, their attitude, and their expectations raise the bar. Players inevitably mirror the standards of their leaders, and with coaches who have held crystal footballs, those standards will ascend.
Cochran, now entering the next significant phase of his coaching career, is leveraging relationships and values that have long defined him. He’s not trying to mimic Nick Saban’s system in a surface-level way—he’s embodying the deeper currents that drove Alabama’s sustained excellence. It’s no coincidence that he continues to attract figures from that world. The bonds formed in championship programs are not easily broken, and in Cochran’s case, they’re proving to be enduring assets. His ability to rally former teammates and staff members is a testament to the respect he commands and the shared belief in his mission. It also reveals his eye for character and capability, as he seeks individuals who are not only talented but also capable of inspiring and mentoring young athletes in profound ways.
While wins and losses are the traditional metrics of a football program’s success, there is a more nuanced transformation taking place at West Alabama. Cochran is laying the groundwork for a cultural renaissance. By infusing his staff with champions, he’s essentially reverse-engineering a powerhouse atmosphere in a smaller setting. He’s creating a microcosm of what made Alabama great—not the lavish facilities or the bottomless resources, but the attitude, the brotherhood, and the refusal to be outworked. It is this philosophy that can transcend budgetary limitations and geographic challenges.
Furthermore, the cohesion within the coaching staff is likely to be a differentiating factor. Having shared the grind at Alabama, these coaches understand each other’s rhythms and expectations. There is no need to manufacture chemistry or force alignment—they’ve already been through the fire together. This allows the staff to move with a unified vision, without the frictions that often slow down new coaching teams. Decisions are made faster, corrections are delivered with clarity, and the players benefit from a consistent message.
From an administrative standpoint, West Alabama’s athletic department has to feel invigorated. Hiring Scott Cochran was already a bold move, signaling a desire to pivot from mediocrity to something more ambitious. By empowering Cochran to build a staff of his choosing—especially one with championship bloodlines—the university is aligning itself with a long-term vision that values substance over flash. It’s the kind of strategic thinking that could pay off in more ways than one. Beyond the football field, success breeds school pride, increased applications, stronger alumni engagement, and potentially more financial support for athletic and academic programs alike.
There is also a broader symbolic dimension to what Cochran is doing. In many ways, he represents a bridge between the big-money, high-pressure world of SEC football and the raw, developmental heart of smaller programs. He carries the wisdom of elite competition but now channels it into a space where personal growth and impact can be more hands-on. It’s not just about winning games—it’s about creating men who are resilient, focused, and unafraid to chase difficult goals. By bringing in former players who share that journey, Cochran is doubling down on mentorship as a cornerstone of his program.
As the season approaches, all eyes will not be on West Alabama in the same way they might be on Tuscaloosa or Athens, but that doesn’t mean the ripple effect isn’t real. Within coaching circles, people are paying attention. Rivals at the Division II level will notice the intensity and execution on display. High school coaches will see the growth in former players who chose West Alabama and are now thriving. Even players at the FBS level who don’t see a path forward where they are might view West Alabama as a fresh start with elite coaching. This is how dynasties at the smaller level are born—not overnight, but through persistent cultural change led by people who know what true excellence looks like.
Scott Cochran is not trying to recreate Alabama in West Alabama. He knows the contexts are different. But what he is doing is even more compelling: he is extracting the essence of what made Alabama dominant—the work ethic, the discipline, the belief system—and translating it into a new environment hungry for identity and achievement. By bringing in two more champions who have lived that journey, Cochran is accelerating the process. He’s building something not from scratch, but from shared values and proven blueprints. And in the quiet resolve of a program often overlooked, a storm is brewing—one built on the backs of champions who’ve chosen to give back, to lead again, and to forge something meaningful in a place where their impact may ultimately run even deeper.
