Cornelius “Mickey” Cochrane, the father and architect of the Bowling Green State University men’s soccer and lacrosse programs, has earned nearly every award possible. He initiated both the soccer and lacrosse programs at BG in 1966, after serving as club coach of both sports at the University the year before.
On the soccer pitch, just seven short seasons after the sport’s inception at the varsity level, he coached the Falcons to the first of two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 1972. The Falcons also captured the Ohio Conference championship in 1973 en route to that NCAA appearance.
By the time he stepped down from his coaching duties in 1977 (to concentrate on teaching as an associate professor in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation), Cochrane had compiled a 13-year record of 68-56-14 at BG, including a 61-39-10 mark over his final 10 seasons.
Cochrane received Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Coach-of-the-Year recognition on two occasions (1969 and 1972). He was bestowed the OCSA’s Honor Award in 1989 and was inducted into the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993. He also is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame.
Cochrane was a member of the first NCAA Soccer Tournament selection committee that shaped the inaugural tourney in 1959. He received the NSCAA's Letter of Commendation in 1964, served as the association’s president in 1969, was given the NSCAA’s prestigious Honor Award in 1978 (the association’s highest prize signifying lifetime service to the sport), and received the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America’s Jeffrey Award in 1984 for his work in the preservation of soccer history, records and memorabilia.
In lacrosse, Cochrane had an outstanding record of 88-24 in his 10 years as head coach. He led the Falcons to an undefeated season in 1970, securing the Midwest Lacrosse Association title and a Top Ten ranking by the Baltimore Sun newspaper. The Falcons also won MLA titles in 1974 and 1975. They participated in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association's post season tournaments twice during his tenure.
Cochrane was named the USILA Coach of the Year in 1970 and coached in the Intercollegiate North - South All Star game in 1969 and 1974. He also coached the University's Women's Lacrosse team for a year. Cochrane was inducted into the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1995. Cochrane was a member of the first NCAA Tournament selection committee that shaped the sport’s inaugural tourney in 1959.
A 1952 graduate of Oberlin College, Cochrane earned three varsity letters, including two in swimming (1951 and 1952) and one in track (1952) and also participated in football and soccer. Following graduation from the school with a major in physical education, he earned his M.A. degree from the University of Maryland. Cochrane then taught physical education and coached soccer at Johns Hopkins University from 1954-64, Brook Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from 1956-57, and BGSU, of course, from 1964-77. In addition to lacrosse and soccer, Cochrane also coach wrestling, baseball, volleyball, swimming and track over the years.
Cochrane’s award list is seemingly endless. He received BGSU’s Honorary Alumnus Award in 1987, was inducted into the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame half a decade later, and also is a member of the NSCAA and Oberlin University Halls of Fame. Additionally, Cochrane was inducted into the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1995.
Cochrane and his wife Pat still reside in Bowling Green, Ohio.
