Ex-Girard standouts coaching

Two former Girard High football players have been named to new coaching jobs with the University of Akron and Colorado State University football teams.

Mike Cochran, who served as Marshall University’s strength and conditioning coach for football the past five years, has been named to a similar position at Akron by coach Rob Ianello.

Pat Meyer, who has been an assistant coach for two seasons at Colorado State, was named the Rams’ offensive coordinator/offensive line coach by coach Steve Fairchild.

Meyer was offensive line coach and run game coordinator this past season, after being offensive line coach in 2008.

Cochran, a former Youngstown State football player under coach Jim Tressel, also had strength and conditioning positions at Ohio State and YSU, both also under Tressel, prior to going to Marshall.

Before coming to Marshall, he spent four years as an assistant at Ohio State under coach Jim Tressel and director Allan Johnson, a National Strength and Conditioning Hall of Fame member.

Before going to OSU, Cochran was director of strength and conditioning at YSU under Tressel, overseeing all 18 varsity sports.

“After an extensive search, I am thrilled to have Mike join our staff and have him return to Northeast Ohio,” Ianello said. “His championship background at Youngstown State, coupled with his time at Ohio State and Marshall, is exactly what we are looking for in our program.

“He has a great pedigree and he has drastically influenced the programs in which he has been involved in a positive manner. I know our players will look forward to coming to work with Mike everyday.”

Meyer, a former Colorado State offensive lineman and a three-time selection to the All-Western Athletic Conference team, has 13 years of collegiate coaching experience in all, with other stints at Memphis, North Carolina State and Florida State.

At North Carolina State, Meyer, helped to condition and train five first-round NFL draft choices: Mario Williams, the No. 1 overall selection in 2006; Philip Rivers, Manny Lawson, Koren Robinson and John McCargo.

After his CSU playing career was over, Meyer signed with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals as a free agent in 1995. Then he played the 1996 season with the St. Louis Stampede of the Arena Football League.

“Pat Meyer is quietly among the best coaches in the country and we’re fortunate to have him here at his alma mater,” said Fairchild. “Since Day 1, he has been a cornerstone in our offense. He’s had a lead role each of his two years here on our staff.”

Cochran, while a YSU player, was a fullback, linebacker and team captain his senior year in 1989 and finished his career with 214 total tackles.

A 1992 YSU graduate with a degree in exercise science, he spent three seasons on the YSU coaching staff as a graduate assistant, working with the defense from 1993 to 1995.

In 1995, Cochran was named YSU’s assistant strength and conditioning coach, and was promoted in 1996 to strength coach.

He was inducted into the YSU Hall of Fame in 2000.

Cochran and his wife, Traci, have two daughters, Mikayla and Raegan.

Meyer graduated from Colorado State with a degree in exercise and sports science in 1995.

He and his wife, Erin, have three daughters, and make their home in Fort Collins.

XJohn Kovach writes about college athletics for The Vindicator. E-mail him at kovach@vindy.com.