The University of Akron Athletics
Hall of Fame
Cochrane, Kenneth "Red"
Kenneth "Red" Cochrane
- Induction:
- 1975
- Class:
- 1932
INAUGURAL CLASS
1927-31 Basketball | Football | Track
1948-69 Athletics Director
His name was Kenneth Cochrane, but to nearly all, he was known affectionately as “Red”.
At The University of Akron, his fame ran the game from student, to athlete to athletics director to football coach to one of the school’s promoters.
A 1925 graduate of South High School where he competed only in varsity track, Cochrane was a three-sport letterwinner at The University of Akron while earning the reputation of being the greatest running back of the Howard “Red” Blair coaching regime.
Cochrane earned All-Ohio Conference honors at halfback as Akron won 21 of 27 games over his three varsity seasons (1928, 1929,1930), earning a share of Ohio Conference honors in 1929 with a 9-1 mark.
In his senior season, team captain Cochrane helped Akron finish 7-1 with the only defeat coming at the hands of Heidelberg, 26-0, in the OAC championship showdown at Buchtel Field.
Cochrane was also a three-year letterwinner as a defensive standout in basketball and three years as a middle distance runner in track.
After 13 years as a successful high school coach, Cochrane returned in 1948 as The University of Akron athletics and physical education director. Cochrane’s tenure as athletics director saw the Zips develop a full slate of eleven varsity sports and a comprehensive intramural program. He also served as UA’s head coach in football in 1952 and 1953.
Cochrane, who was elected to the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame in 1961, retired as athletics director in 1969.
1927-31 Basketball | Football | Track
1948-69 Athletics Director
His name was Kenneth Cochrane, but to nearly all, he was known affectionately as “Red”.At The University of Akron, his fame ran the game from student, to athlete to athletics director to football coach to one of the school’s promoters.
A 1925 graduate of South High School where he competed only in varsity track, Cochrane was a three-sport letterwinner at The University of Akron while earning the reputation of being the greatest running back of the Howard “Red” Blair coaching regime.
Cochrane earned All-Ohio Conference honors at halfback as Akron won 21 of 27 games over his three varsity seasons (1928, 1929,1930), earning a share of Ohio Conference honors in 1929 with a 9-1 mark.
In his senior season, team captain Cochrane helped Akron finish 7-1 with the only defeat coming at the hands of Heidelberg, 26-0, in the OAC championship showdown at Buchtel Field.
Cochrane was also a three-year letterwinner as a defensive standout in basketball and three years as a middle distance runner in track.
After 13 years as a successful high school coach, Cochrane returned in 1948 as The University of Akron athletics and physical education director. Cochrane’s tenure as athletics director saw the Zips develop a full slate of eleven varsity sports and a comprehensive intramural program. He also served as UA’s head coach in football in 1952 and 1953.
Cochrane, who was elected to the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame in 1961, retired as athletics director in 1969.
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