SPORTS LEDGER Read Free Online at www.TheSportsLedger.com The PAGE 1B November 2022 JSU Basketball Adds Local Standout
John Cohen Named Director of Athletics at Auburn University Under the tutelage of his coach and father, Odam averaged more than 25 points during his junior campaign and more than five assists and five rebounds per game. Already the Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer, Odam is on pace to finish his prep career as one of the few players to surpass 3,000 career points in AHSAA history. He was a first-team all-state selection by the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) and named to the North-South All- Star game last season. Odam also fielded offers from UAB, Samford, Belmont, Mercer and others. The Jacksonville State University men's basketball program signed local standout Alex Odam as the first member of its 2023 signing class. With a roster of players from nine states and two international guys from Slovakia and Turkey, head coach Ray Harper has scoured the globe to assemble his teams in the past. This year however, the Gamecocks found what they were searching for only a dozen miles north of campus. Piedmont High School's Alex Odam, a 6-foot-3 guard for the Bulldogs, signed his National Letter of Intent to join Jax State next year. The longtime JSU target helped lead Piedmont to a 21-8 overall record last season, as well as a fifth-straight area championship and a trip to the AHSAA Elite Eight, which took place at JSU's Pete Mathews Coliseum. To read more information about players signing with Alabama Universities see inside this issue of The Sports Ledger. John Cohen, who has more than two decades as a coach and administrator in the Southeastern Conference, has been named the 16th Director of Athletics at Auburn University. Cohen has spent the previous 14 years at Mississippi State in various capacities, most recently as the athletic director the past six years. “John has a wealth of experience in college athletics, particularly in the Southeastern Conference and his resume and references are impeccable,” said Auburn President Dr. Chris Roberts. “His leadership and success as a head coach and an athletic director speak for themselves. John will embrace Auburn and be a tremendous leader for our athletics program as we move forward.” Cohen’s career in college athletics began as a baseball player at Mississippi State before entering the coaching ranks for 25 years that included being a two-time SEC Coach of the Year at State. Named director of athletics at MSU on November 4, 2016, Cohen led the Bulldog program to record-breaking success athletically, academically and in facilities enhancement during his tenure. “I’m extremely grateful to President Roberts for the opportunity to be the next director of athletics at Auburn University,” Cohen said. “Auburn is an incredibly special place as is demonstrated by the hall of fame coaches and athletes that have been a part of its storied history. I understand the traditions and values at Auburn and look forward to continuing those traditions. I’m humbled and honored to be joining the Auburn family.” Athletically, Cohen oversaw arguably the greatest era in Bulldog athletics history, highlighted by a 2021 College World Series Championship for the school's first team national title in any sport. A total of five Bulldog programs turned in a program-best season with Cohen at the helm of the department, including softball (2022), baseball (2021), volleyball (2021), soccer (2018) and women's basketball (2017, 2018). A nationally respected leader within intercollegiate athletics, Cohen serves on the prestigious 10-member NCAA Division I Baseball Committee as part of a four- year term that began on September 1, 2019. Cohen is one of 16 individuals who have played and coached in the College World Series and one of just two among that elite group, who have played, coached and later served as director of athletics for a participating school. He is one of three active SEC Athletic Directors to hire an eventual national championship winning head coach in any sport. Cohen, who spent more than two decades coaching college baseball, was named MSU’s head baseball coach in July of 2008. Nine years later, Cohen’s official role in administration began when he assumed the role of associate athletic director in addition to head baseball coach. Success shouldn’t come as a surprise as it was never far removed from him during his 12-year run as a head coach in the SEC. His teams were successful both on the field and in the classroom. At MSU, he led the Bulldogs to a College World Series finals appearance, an SEC regular season championship and a SEC Tournament championship. In the classroom upon his arrival in 2009, 133 players were selected to the SEC Academic Honor Roll, including three straight SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year winners from 2013-15. Cohen is the only coach in SEC history to win an SEC championship, SEC tournament championship, and advance to the College World Series both as a player and head coach. He and Ron Polk are the only two baseball coaches in SEC history to lead multiple schools to SEC titles. His 2013 Bulldog club advanced to the CWS championship series for the first time in MSU history. Cohen also had the privilege of being a part of a College World Series as a player, head coach and three times as an athletic director (2018, ’19, ’21).
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Fyffe Coach Named To Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame The 2022 AHSAA football playoffs are underway, and several teams have advanced to the state quarterfinals. The Geraldine Bulldogs, led by quarterback Jaxon Colvin (#4), are one of three DeKalb County programs earning a spot in the third round. Geraldine picked up a 17-14 victory over Mars Hall on November 11, 2022. Sylvania took down Madison Academy 48-45. The wins set up a county rival showdown between the Bulldogs and Rams in the quarterfinals. The Fyffe Red Devils are the third DeKalb County team to advance. Fyffe rolled to a 12-0 record this season with a 35-6 victory over Winston County. To find out which other local teams have advanced in the playoffs, see the inside of this issue of The Sports Ledger. AHSAA Football Playoffs Underway
Thirteen contributors to prep athletics in Alabama have been selected for induction into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame. The induction banquet for the Class of 2023 will take place next March in Montgomery. The individuals selected include football coaches Paul Benefield, David Powell, Mike Robertson, and Trent Taylor; basketball coaches Homer Davis, Ronald Jackson; Tim Miller; Jack Steele, and John Woody; administrators Steve Giddens and Charles McCaleb; and selected in the “Old-Timers’ Division” were baseball and football coach William “Earl” Griffin and basketball coach Matthew L. Jones.
Fyffe High School Head Coach Paul Benefield is still going strong at the helm of the Red Devils program. His 2022 Fyffe team is now 12-0 after a 35-6 win over Winston County in the second round of the state playoffs. Over his career, Benefield has guided 15 teams to 10-0 regular season wins, including this year’s program. His teams have won five state championships since 2014 and have finished runner- up twice (2007, 2015). The 2019 Fyffe team outscored opponents 639-43, and his 2014 team set a then state record scoring 751 points. The class of 2023 will run the total enshrined into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame to 390.
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Fyffe Coach Paul Benefield
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
The Plainview volleyball program finished the 2022 season as the Class 3A State Runner-up. The Lady Bears fell in the state finals to Prattville Christian. Plainview concluded the year with a 63-12 overall record. The program won the 3A Area 14 championship and the DeKalb County Volleyball Championship. The winners of each classification in the 2022 AHSAA Volleyball State Championships are as follows: Class 1A: Addison; Class 2A: Donoho; Class 3A: Prattville Christian; Class 4A: Montgomery Catholic; Class 5A: Westminister Christian; Class 6A: Bayside Academy; and Class 7A: McGill-Toolen. Plainview Finishes As State Runner-up
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