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John Cohen identifies biggest reason for Auburn baseball’s 2025 turnaround
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
John Cohen understands that Auburn was far below its standard on the diamond in 2024. The Tigers struggled to a 27-26 record and an 8-22 mark in the SEC, failing to make the SEC Tournament and missing out on regionals for the second time in four years — just 2 seasons removed from a College World Series appearance.
In 2025, the Tigers have shown massive improvement, sitting at 33-15 (13-11 SEC) and in a 4-way tie for 5th in the conference standings ahead of a weekend series against South Carolina at Plainsman Park. They’re also No. 5 in the country coming off a series win against defending CWS champion Tennessee.
And it’s pitching that’s been the big difference, Cohen said.
“I think what you have is swing and miss on the pitching staff,” Auburn’s athletic director said, according to AL.com. “You have strike throwers with swing and miss capabilities. I always say in college baseball, that’s the great eraser.
Cohen, who led the Kentucky and Mississippi State baseball programs before being named the latter’s AD in 2016, came to Auburn in 2022. His former assistant in Starkville, Butch Thompson, has already led the Tigers to a pair of CWS appearances and is looking for a 3rd in 2025.
Following the South Carolina series, the Tigers close out their home slate against Jacksonville State before wrapping up the regular season at Ole Miss May 15-17.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
