Recruiting Area: South Central Kansas, Western Oklahoma; West Texas; Wichita

Cayden Cochran is in his third season with the Hornet coaching staff, serving as the passing game and recruiting coordinator while coaching the wide receivers. In his first season back with the Hornets in 2018, Emporia State ranked second in the MIAA in total offense and were third in the league in passing yardage.

In his role as passing game coordinator the Hornets had the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Braxton Marstall, while Tyler Harris led the league in touchdown catches.  Four offensive skill players earned All-MIAA honors last year.

Cochran spent three seasons at NCAA Division II West Georgia before returning to Emporia State. The Wolves were 28-10 during his three years in Carrollton, Ga. with two trips to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. He worked with veteran Quarterback Dallas Dickey to help lead the Wolves to the NCAA Division II Semifinals in 2015 where they were defeated by Northwest Missouri 38-23 one week after the Bearcats defeated Emporia State in the regional final. In his final season, West Georgia went 9-4, falling to eventual national runnerup West Florida 17-14 in the regional finals. Under Cochran's leadership, Sophomore Quarterback Willie Candler threw for a school record 3,060 yards with 25 touchdowns. Candler also set school records in total offensive yards, total touchdowns, completion percentage and passes completed. Both Quarterbacks earn All-Gulf South honors while Dickey was the first All-American quarterback in school history.

In his first coaching stint at Emporia State in 2014 he coached the wide receivers and had a pair of All-MIAA players.  Austin Willis was a walk-on that developed into an All-Region player, was signed by the Detroit Lions and made appearances in preseason games with the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders.

Cochran was the starting quarterback at Valdosta State where he led the Blazers to the NCAA Division II national title as a junior in 2012. His best work that season came during the NCAA Playoffs. He completed 80 of 118 (.676) passes for 873 yards and seven touchdowns during Valdosta State's four game run to the national championship.

Cochran played his freshman season at Coffeyville CC and spent one year at Oklahoma University before transferring to Valdosta State.  He was a three-year letter winner and two year starter for the Blazers.

A native of Cashion, Okla., Cochran is a 2013 graduate of Valdosta State. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Native American Studies. Cochran’s wife, the former Samantha Posey, was a national champion softball player during her career at Valdosta State. The couple has two daughters, Posey Rhea and Brady Lyn.