Sean Miller Welcomes Adam Cohen As Crawford Family Associate Head Coach
04.19.22 | Men's Basketball
Cohen comes to Xavier from Stanford.
CINCINNATI --- Xavier University Men's Basketball Head Coach Sean Miller announced the hiring of Adam Cohen as the Crawford Family Associate Head Coach. Cohen, who is entering his 11th year as a collegiate assistant, spent the past six seasons at Stanford. After serving as an assistant coach for the Cardinal his first two seasons, Cohen was elevated to associate head coach prior to the 2018-19 season.
Cohen owns more than a decade of experience in college. Prior to Stanford, Cohen served as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt (2014-16), Harvard (2013-14) and Rice (2012-13).
"Adam Cohen has earned a reputation as one of college basketball's brightest assistant coaches," said Miller. "I saw his ability first-hand as a competitor in the Pac 12 Conference while he was at Stanford. His tireless work ethic, recruiting ability and knowledge of the game combine to make him an excellent Associate Head Coach for the Xavier program. I am thrilled to have Adam and his family as a part of our future here at XU."
The NABC named Cohen to its prestigious 30-under-30 Team, recognizing the nation's top assistant coaches, at the 2016 Final Four in Houston. Cohen was invited to take part in the 2022 NCAA Champion Forum for Men's Basketball at the NCAA National Office in Indianapolis, Ind., in May. He was also invited to the prestigious Athletic Director U's Collegiate Coaching Consortium at the 2018 Final Four in San Antonio.
Regarded as an excellent recruiter, Cohen has also earned a reputation as a talented teacher with a knack for developing talent and there are plenty of great examples of that skill. Ziaire Williams was the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to the Memphis Grizzlies, KZ Okpala was drafted by the Miami Heat in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft, and Tyrell Terry went to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 2020 Draft. Cohen, who led the recruiting efforts for the Cardinal program, was instrumental in landing multiple top 20 recruiting classes, including back-to-back McDonald's All-Americans for the first time in Stanford history.
Stanford finished 20-12 overall in 2019-20, and was in contention for an NCAA Tournament berth before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the season. Cohen has played an important role for a Stanford team that won 19 contests overall, finished third in the Pac-12 and won 11 conference games – its highest finish and most conference wins in 10 seasons – in 2018. The Cardinal earned a postseason berth for the first time in three years.
Cohen has a proven track record in developing point guards. Under Cohen's tutelage, Max Guercy became the all-time assist leader at Rice, Siyani Chambers developed into a First Team All-Ivy League selection at Harvard, Wade Baldwin IV was an NBA first-round draft pick from Vanderbilt and Daejon Davis set the program's freshman assist record and was an Pac-12 All-Freshman Team selection at Stanford. Along with Baldwin (Blazers), Cohen's roster of current NBA players he has helped develop also includes Luke Kornet (Knicks) and Damian Jones (Warriors).
Cohen arrived at Stanford prior to the 2016-17 season, after serving as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt for two seasons. He helped guide the Commodores to 40 combined victories and postseason berths in his two years in Nashville. Vanderbilt won 19 games and reached the NCAA Tournament in 2015-16.
Prior to Vanderbilt, Cohen was an assistant coach at Harvard. During the 2013-14 campaign with the Crimson, he helped guide the program to its fourth straight Ivy League title, an NCAA Tournament appearance, and program records for overall victories (27) and conference wins (13). Cohen broke into coaching during the 2012-13 season, serving as an assistant coach at Rice.
Cohen, who has had national success working in the SEC, Pac-12, Ivy League and Conference USA, is attacking the new challenge of the BIG EAST. A 2008 graduate of Arizona with a degree in political science, Cohen served as a student manager and assistant video coordinator under Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson. After a year as a graduate assistant at New Orleans, Cohen joined the staff at USC as the Trojans' video coordinator. He was elevated to Director of Operations after just one year. Cohen spent three seasons at USC (2010-12) prior to joining the coaching staff at Rice.
Cohen, who serves on the Board of Directors for Rising Coaches Elite, was appointed to the Coaching for Literacy Coaches Council in 2017. He has overseen several elite camps, including the 2007 Nike Basketball clinic in Chengdu, China.
Cohen, a native of Buffalo, New York, and his wife, Danielle, have a son, Leo, who was born in 2020.
Cohen owns more than a decade of experience in college. Prior to Stanford, Cohen served as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt (2014-16), Harvard (2013-14) and Rice (2012-13).
"Adam Cohen has earned a reputation as one of college basketball's brightest assistant coaches," said Miller. "I saw his ability first-hand as a competitor in the Pac 12 Conference while he was at Stanford. His tireless work ethic, recruiting ability and knowledge of the game combine to make him an excellent Associate Head Coach for the Xavier program. I am thrilled to have Adam and his family as a part of our future here at XU."
The NABC named Cohen to its prestigious 30-under-30 Team, recognizing the nation's top assistant coaches, at the 2016 Final Four in Houston. Cohen was invited to take part in the 2022 NCAA Champion Forum for Men's Basketball at the NCAA National Office in Indianapolis, Ind., in May. He was also invited to the prestigious Athletic Director U's Collegiate Coaching Consortium at the 2018 Final Four in San Antonio.
Regarded as an excellent recruiter, Cohen has also earned a reputation as a talented teacher with a knack for developing talent and there are plenty of great examples of that skill. Ziaire Williams was the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to the Memphis Grizzlies, KZ Okpala was drafted by the Miami Heat in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft, and Tyrell Terry went to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 2020 Draft. Cohen, who led the recruiting efforts for the Cardinal program, was instrumental in landing multiple top 20 recruiting classes, including back-to-back McDonald's All-Americans for the first time in Stanford history.
Stanford finished 20-12 overall in 2019-20, and was in contention for an NCAA Tournament berth before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the season. Cohen has played an important role for a Stanford team that won 19 contests overall, finished third in the Pac-12 and won 11 conference games – its highest finish and most conference wins in 10 seasons – in 2018. The Cardinal earned a postseason berth for the first time in three years.
Cohen has a proven track record in developing point guards. Under Cohen's tutelage, Max Guercy became the all-time assist leader at Rice, Siyani Chambers developed into a First Team All-Ivy League selection at Harvard, Wade Baldwin IV was an NBA first-round draft pick from Vanderbilt and Daejon Davis set the program's freshman assist record and was an Pac-12 All-Freshman Team selection at Stanford. Along with Baldwin (Blazers), Cohen's roster of current NBA players he has helped develop also includes Luke Kornet (Knicks) and Damian Jones (Warriors).
Cohen arrived at Stanford prior to the 2016-17 season, after serving as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt for two seasons. He helped guide the Commodores to 40 combined victories and postseason berths in his two years in Nashville. Vanderbilt won 19 games and reached the NCAA Tournament in 2015-16.
Prior to Vanderbilt, Cohen was an assistant coach at Harvard. During the 2013-14 campaign with the Crimson, he helped guide the program to its fourth straight Ivy League title, an NCAA Tournament appearance, and program records for overall victories (27) and conference wins (13). Cohen broke into coaching during the 2012-13 season, serving as an assistant coach at Rice.
Cohen, who has had national success working in the SEC, Pac-12, Ivy League and Conference USA, is attacking the new challenge of the BIG EAST. A 2008 graduate of Arizona with a degree in political science, Cohen served as a student manager and assistant video coordinator under Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson. After a year as a graduate assistant at New Orleans, Cohen joined the staff at USC as the Trojans' video coordinator. He was elevated to Director of Operations after just one year. Cohen spent three seasons at USC (2010-12) prior to joining the coaching staff at Rice.
Cohen, who serves on the Board of Directors for Rising Coaches Elite, was appointed to the Coaching for Literacy Coaches Council in 2017. He has overseen several elite camps, including the 2007 Nike Basketball clinic in Chengdu, China.
Cohen, a native of Buffalo, New York, and his wife, Danielle, have a son, Leo, who was born in 2020.