Jimmy Cochran tabbed to coach at UVM
Two-time Olympian and former Catamount Jimmy Cochran has been named an assistant alpine coach for the University of Vermont ski team. Bill Reichelt, the Director of Skiing and Head Alpine Coach at UVM, made the announcement Wednesday (Sept 12).
Cochran skied for the Catamounts in 2003 after transferring to UVM from Middlebury College. During his one-year stint at Vermont he won eight races on the EISA Circuit and finished the year as the national runner-up in the slalom and placed third in the giant slalom at the 2003 NCAA Championships at Dartmouth.
“It is a pleasure to bring Jimmy back to UVM after competing nine years on the World Cup circuit,” said Reichelt. “He will bring the experience of racing at the sports highest level as well as competing as a Catamount in 2002-03. He has a passion for skiing and I am excited to work with Jimmy in his new role in the program.”
In 2004, Cochran joined the U.S. Ski Team and enjoyed a nine-year career. He was on both the 2006 and 2010 U.S. Olympic Teams and raced in three World Championships. He also captured four U.S. titles during his career.
“I’m honored to be a continuing part of such a rich ski racing legacy at UVM, and look forward to giving back to the program that put me onto the national team 10 years ago,” said Cochran. “Lucky for me, the team today is made up of an incredibly motivated, impassioned cadre of student-athletes.”
Cochran, a member of the heralded “Skiing Cochrans”, joins a long line of family members to have skied and/or attended UVM. His father Bobby, mother Janet, sister Amy, three aunts (Barbara Ann, Lindy, Marilyn) and grandfather Mickey are former Catamounts. His father and three aunts also went on to compete in the Olympics. His aunt Barbara Ann won a gold medal in alpine skiing at the 1972 Winter Olympic games in Sapporo, Japan.
Vermont won the 2012 NCAA National Championship with four straight days of impressive performances in Bozeman, Mont. The Catamounts won their first national title since 1994 and sixth in the history of the program with a record 832 points. UVM also set a new NCAA record for largest margin of victory, outdistancing Utah by 161 points.