A former All-SWAC standout and NFL veteran, Earl Cochran is set to begin his first season as Prairie View A&M’s defensive line coach.
Cochran comes to Prairie View A&M with a well-rounded resume’ which features a wealth of professional playing and coaching experience in addition to both collegiate and high school coaching experience.
A recipient of the Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship, Cochran spent the 2012 season as the defensive line coach at McMurray University. At McMurray, Cochran was member of a staff which guided the Warhawks to the their first bowl win and bowl appearance in 63 years as they claimed the Heart of Texas Bowl with a win over Southern Arkansas. McMurray finished the season with an 8-3 record.
Cochran’s professional career spanned all or parts of six seasons from 2003 through 2009. He was part of the Green Bay Packers organization in 2003 and the Minnesota Vikings in 2005.
He played in NFL Europe for the Amsterdam Admirals in 2005-06, before returning to the NFL with the Houston Texans from 2006-09. He finished his professional career with the California Redwoods of the UFL in 2009.
A former SWAC standout at Alabama State, Cochran was a three-time All-SWAC performer for the Hornets as he helped them advance to the 2000 SWAC Championship Game. He also served as team captain and was selected as ASU’s defensive MVP in 2001.
Cochran has participated in a variety of football camps and clinics to expand his knowledge of the game in addition to a stint with the Houston Texans as a Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship intern in 2013.
A native of Bessemer, Ala., Cochran is an avid believer in community service as the founder of the Divine Direction Foundation. The foundation, which serves as a vehicle to establish partnerships and provide outreach services, has conducted a variety of events across the south.
Cochran holds a bachelor’s in business information systems from the University of Phoenix.
