ROCK ISLAND -- Augustana Vikings head football coach Steve Bell has announced the hiring of Brian Cochran as the program's new defensive coordinator.

"I'm extremely excited to welcome Brian Cochran to our Augustana Football Family. We are getting a terrific man, relentless worker, and one heck of a football coach who has coached and worked with players at all levels of college football," said Bell. "I was very fortunate to work with Brian in the mid '90s at MacMurray College, and the one thing that stood out to me was how technically sound and relentless his players played for him on every snap. I'm ecstatic that our defensive players get a chance to be led by Brian. He is one of the best coaches I have been around in my 34 years of coaching college football."

Cochran brings more than two decades of coaching experience across NCAA Division I and Division III football and most recently served as the defensive line coach at Western Carolina University.

"I am grateful to Coach Bell for the opportunity to serve as defensive coordinator at an outstanding, tradition-rich school like Augustana College," said Cochran. "I look forward to developing our players into outstanding athletes, teammates, and future leaders. I believe in servant leadership, and I'm here to serve the football players at Augustana."

During his time at Western Carolina, Cochran helped guide the Catamount defensive front while playing a key role in recruiting and player development. Prior to his time in Cullowhee, he spent three seasons as the defensive line coach at the University of Akron from 2019–2021, helping develop the Zips' defensive front in the Mid-American Conference. Cochran also spent the 2018 season at Kent State University, where he coached an All-Conference defensive lineman and helped the defense rank first in the conference in red zone defense. Prior to that, he coached the defensive line at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga in 2017, helping the Mocs lead the Southern Conference in total defense while allowing just 326.4 yards per game.

Before moving to the Division I ranks, Cochran built an impressive résumé at the Division III level. He spent nearly a decade at John Carroll University, serving as defensive coordinator, defensive line coach, recruiting coordinator, and director of football operations. During his tenure, the Blue Streaks produced one of the nation's top defensive units, finishing in the top 25 nationally in total defense from 2013–2015, including the No. 1-ranked defense in the country in 2013. His 2015 defensive line unit led the nation with 45 sacks and produced four All-Ohio Athletic Conference selections.

Cochran also brings head coaching experience to Rock Island. He served as the head football coach at Heidelberg College from 2003–2006, overseeing all aspects of the program and developing multiple All-Conference and All-American players. He began his collegiate coaching career at Ohio Northern University, where he coached the defensive line and helped develop multiple All-Conference student-athletes.

A native of Painesville, Ohio, Cochran was a standout defensive lineman during his playing days, earning First Team All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors and First Team Division III All-American recognition at John Carroll University. He later earned his master's degree in education administration from the University of Dayton.

The Vikings begin the 2026 season on Sept. 5 against Simpson.