Now that John Cohen has left Mississippi State for Auburn, what happens next? Who can step into Mississippi State athletics and elevate the program?
The Mississippi State athletics program is looking for a new athletic director. Luckily, Mississippi State’s last three athletic directors have all gone on to bigger programs. You’ve got Greg Byrne from Alabama University, Scott Stricklin from the University of Florida, and now John Cohen at Auburn University. All three have their own accomplishments, and I believe Mississippi State president, Mark Keenum, is prepared to once again get the job done.
Here are some way-too-early-to-tell candidates for the Mississippi State Athletic Director position:
Homerun hire: John Currie
Former University of Tennessee Athletic Director, and present athletic director for Wake Forest University, John Currie, would be an absolutely unbelievable hire.
Hire that could happen but might not be so great to many fans: Jared Benko
Jared Benko has his ties to Mississippi State as the former associate athletic director under Scott Stricklin and John Cohen.
Hires that would be outstanding but probably won’t happen: Hunter Yurachek & Mark Harlan
Yes, I realize that these two names might seem impossible, but you never truly know. Hunter Yurachek, from Arkansas University, has done an excellent job leading the athletic program for the Razorbacks with Omaha appearances in baseball, March Madness runs in basketball, and consistent top 25 appearances in football. I do think that Yurachek feels at home in Arkansas and wouldn’t leave for a lateral SEC West school.
Secondly, Mark Harlan from the University of Utah has led the Utes athletic program in an upsurge manner. Rumor has it that Auburn went after Harlan before John Cohen, and he declined the job. If Harlan did decline the job, he won’t be accepting anything at Mississippi State University.
All in all, I trust Mark Keenum to, once again, bring in another solid athletic director to lead the Bulldogs to success.