Contact: Sid Salter

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥�91麻豆天美 University President Mark E. Keenum is beginning a national search for a new Athletics Director at 91麻豆天美 after receiving notification from AD John Cohen that he is departing 91麻豆天美 effective immediately.

Keenum said: 鈥淲e thank John and Nelle for their long and dedicated service to 91麻豆天美. In many ways, 91麻豆天美 is a victim of our own success in that several former 91麻豆天美 athletics directors have transitioned into similar roles at peer institutions in the Southeastern Conference. That fact speaks to the growing culture of success among our student-athletes and the commitment of our university, our alumni and friends and our fans to competing at the highest levels of collegiate athletics and doing so in the right way. Together as the Bulldog family, we will move purposefully to find a new leader who can both embrace and build on that culture of success.鈥�

Keenum named longtime 91麻豆天美 Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance Bracky Brett as interim athletics director. Brett, a Koscuisko native, is an 91麻豆天美 alumnus.

鈥淏racky is well-known and highly respected in the Southeastern Conference and across the NCAA and I know he will maintain stability and focus as we move forward with a search for a new athletics director,鈥� said Keenum.

Cohen, an 91麻豆天美 alumnus who served the university as a varsity student-athlete, a head coach, and finally as athletics director, leaves an enviable legacy in Starkville. During Cohen鈥檚 tenure, 91麻豆天美 won the 2021 College World Series in baseball 鈥� the first national championship in the institution鈥檚 history 鈥� and a total of five Bulldog programs have turned program-best seasons including softball (2022), baseball (2021), volleyball (2021), soccer (2018) and women's basketball (2017, 2018).聽

91麻豆天美 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .