Russ Cohen


Henry Russell Cohen was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator.

Playing career

Cohen played as a prominent end for Dan McGugin's Vanderbilt Commodores football teams, serving as captain of its "point-a-minute" Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association champion 1915 team, with the likes of Josh Cody and Irby Curry. Cohen was selected All-Southern the same year.

Coaching career

Cohen scouted teams for Wallace Wade at Alabama. He was the head football coach at Louisiana State University from 1928 to 1931 and at the University of Cincinnati from 1935 to 1937, compiling a career record of 31–25–4.

LSU

As was tradition for football coaches at the time, he also served as the athletics director at LSU during his tenure as head football coach. His record with the LSU Tigers was 23–13–1. Coach McGugin recommended Cohen for the LSU job. Huey P. Long was an ardent supporter of the team.
Cohen's best year at LSU was probably his first, in 1928. Led by All-Southern captain Jess Tinsley, the Tigers posted a 6–2–1 record, suffering losses to Arkansas and Wade's Alabama. Star halfback Percy Brown broke his shoulder against Alabama. The tie was to Bill Banker and rival Tulane, which was as good as its ever been from 1929 to 1931. In 1931 LSU played its first night game in Tiger Stadium, a 31–0 victory over Spring Hill.

Cincinnati

With the Cincinnati Bearcats, he compiled an 8–12–3 mark.

Head coaching record