
AJ Cochran, Houston Dynamo in US Open Cup, 2014
Current Club: Phoenix Rising
College: Wisconsin Badgers
High School: CBC Cadets
Club: St Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri Academy
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 195 lbs.
Birth Date: 02-09-1993
Birthplace: St. Louis, MO
NEWS
2021 Feb 21 Indy Eleven sign the seven year veteran
Cochran joins Indy Eleven after spending the last two seasons with perennial USL Championship power Phoenix Rising FC. In 2019, his All-Championship Second Team campaign (26 starts, four assists) helped Phoenix capture the league’s regular season title. Cochran also appeared in 14 games during the shortened 2020 campaign, contributing a pair of goals en route to the squad winning the Western Conference Championship crown.
And shoutout to @Asante20Magic and @Alec_Cochran, who were honorable mentions!#RisingTogetherButSeparate | #OwnThe* pic.twitter.com/Zz4z09qJhx
— Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) August 11, 2020
Aug 8 – AJ scores his first goal for the club
The Pride of St. Louis!@Alec_Cochran must be making @peterramage83 smile.#DefendersWhoScore pic.twitter.com/3irlBkhlXq
— Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) August 9, 2020
"We're very excited for the season to start. It's what we've been working on for the last six weeks."
Watch defender @Alec_Cochran's postgame comments from yesterday's 3-3 draw with El Paso. pic.twitter.com/HpKe1UEK2g
— Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) March 1, 2020
The club's rocky history with penalty shootouts was a dark cloud over the end of the conference quarterfinals. That is until @Alec_Cochran's match-clinching penalty kick sent the club into the next round. #tbt #RisingAsOne pic.twitter.com/fYNvIJtfNf
— Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) January 2, 2020
AJ’s been giving nightmares to forwards since ‘93💥 @Alec_Cochran || @PHXRisingFC #RisingAsOne #RisingTogether pic.twitter.com/rAJ5uNoeDT
— Phoenix Rising Supporters Talk (@TalkRising) December 6, 2019
AJ named to the @USLshow Top XI
Very proud of this guy and what the team accomplished this year! pic.twitter.com/zvKXokL6FX
— John Cochran Jr (@JohnCochranJr1) November 22, 2019
2019 Nov 12 Cochran named to USL Championship All-League Second Team
2019 Nov 9 Cochran signs with Phoenix for 2020
Cochran appeared in 26 matches and started in all of them (2,341 minutes). He was a part of a defense that collected a club-record 15 clean sheets in 2019. He led the team in blocks (22), was second on the team in clearances (80) and areal duels won (111), third on the team in interceptions (36), and fourth in tackles won (29).
2018 Dec 25 signs with Phoenix Rising
AJ’s option not renewed by Atlanta United 2
ATL UTD 2 announces end of year roster moves
📃: https://t.co/RDh45rl9nY pic.twitter.com/PXv3yxhA3L
— ATL UTD 2 (@atlutd2) November 16, 2018
Our first ever signings.
ATL UTD 2 add 4 players to 2018 roster
📝 https://t.co/EK2xCjE529 pic.twitter.com/0LwERVeTH6
— ATL UTD 2 (@atlutd2) January 24, 2018
2018 Jan 24 – Cochran one of four initial signings
Cochran, a 24-year-old central defender, spent his last two seasons playing in his hometown with St. Louis FC of the USL where he made 49 total appearances. He was a first-round MLS SuperDraft pick by Houston Dynamo in the 2014. Cochran made 26 MLS appearances in two seasons for the Dynamo. He was a three-year starter at the University of Wisconsin prior to signing a Generation Adidas deal in 2014.
2016 March 6 – Saint Louis FC sign AJ Cochran
In two seasons with Houston, Cochran made 26 appearances with 19 starts. Of the 1,882 minutes Cochran accumulated in his career with Houston, 1,370 of them came as a rookie in 2014.
2015 November 5 – Alec has apparently been released and is now a free agent. Dynamo two year stats.
2015 July 21 US Open Cup Quarterfinals
Tonight's @GEICO starting XI and bench vs. SKC in #USOC2015. @erickestefano15 makes the bench. #ForeverOrange pic.twitter.com/vaw23pNnpV
— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) July 21, 2015
2014 January 17 – CBC’s Cochran Drafted by HoustonGoalkeeper Berner (SIUE), forward Gabeljic (SLU) go in second round.
2014 January 16 – Alec Cochran Drafted by Houston Dynamo
2014 January 6 – Alec Cochran Signed to Generation Adidas Contract
2013 December 3 – Alec Cochran Named Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
2013 November 21 – AJ Cochran Named Big 10 Defensive Player, Opens 1st Round NCAA Play
2013 July 29 – AJ Cochran Named Pre-Season All-American
2012 February 24 – AJ Cochran and Tomas Gomez Called Into USA U20 Camp
INTERNATIONAL
Congratulations to @HoustonDynamo defender @Alec_Cochran for being named to US U-23 national team camp! #GoodLuck pic.twitter.com/5m3HnJZDMs
— Dynamo Charities (@dynamocharities) August 1, 2014
2014 August 01 – 19 Players named to U23 Team Camp
USA Continues Early Preparation Efforts in Build-Up Toward Qualification for 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
2013 June 07 – U-20 MNT Head Coach Tab Ramos Notes Significance of 35-Player FIFA Provisional Roster
AJ was named to the 35 man provisional roster, from a pool of 80 players, but was not a member of the 21-player roster that competed in the U20 World Cup held in Turkey later in 2013.
2013 Apr 13 – Tab Ramos Names Roster for April 22-29 Training Camp at The Home Depot Center
Called in as one of 24 players for an April 22-29 training camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The team is preparing for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which takes place June 21-July 13 in Turkey.
This camp marks the first for the U-20s since their strong runner-up performance at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship. The U-20 MNT qualified for the U-20 World Cup when it defeated Canada 4-2 on Feb. 26 to advance to the semifinals of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship. The USA took second place in the tournament, which was capped off by a hard fought 3-1 overtime loss to host Mexico in the title match at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla.
2012 July 13 – U.S. U-20 MNT Head Coach Tab Ramos Names 18 Player Roster for Northern Ireland Milk Cup
an 18-player roster for the team’s upcoming trip to the Northern Ireland Milk Cup for three games against international opposition on July 21-26. AJ Cochran was part of the team’s South American tour in June.
2012 June 08 – U.S. U-20 MNT Falls to Uruguay in Second Friendly
AJ came on as a sub in the 69th min for Christian Dean
2012 June 06 – U.S. U-20 MNT Falls to Uruguay at Gran Parque Central
AJ started and played the full 90
2012 May 26 – U.S. U-20 MNT Head Coach Tab Ramos Names 20-Player Roster for Training Camp in Houston
2012 Feb 12 – Tab Ramos Names 26-Player Roster for U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team Training Camp in Florida
2012 Jan 02 – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team Convenes for First Camp of Year in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
2011 Feb 08 – U.S. U-18 MNT Roster Set for Training Camp in Phoenix
Head coach Mike Matkovich has called in 36 players, including 26 current Development Academy players and four Development Academy alumni.
2010 Nov 15 – Matkovich Names 36 for Training Camp at The Home Depot Center
head coach Mike Matkovich has finalized a 36-player roster for a training camp at The Home Depot Center from Nov. 20-28. The training camp will include friendly games against local men’s teams, including Ventura County Fusion, FC Hasental, Hollywood United and Orange County Blue Star.
2010 July 28 – U.S. U-18 MNT Drop Tight Game to Bolivia
The U.S. U-18 MNT dropped a 2-1 decision to Bolivia in a tightly contested game in Argentina. Two early goals sank Mike Matkovich’s young squad in the first international game of its tour of Buenos Aires and Santiago, Chile. AJ started this game but was substituted in the 18th minute.
2010 July 21 – U.S. U-18 MNT Departs for Argentina, Chile
head coach Mike Matkovich will bring 18 players to South America. The U.S. will play matches against a regional select team on July 26, Argentina on July 27 and Chile on July 29 in Santiago.
PROFESSIONAL
2014 Jan 16 – Houston Dynamo select defender AJ Cochran and forward Mark Sherrod in 2014 MLS SuperDraft
Houston used its first round pick (No. 16 overall) to select Cochran, a member of Generation adidas. The St. Louis, Mo. native played three seasons at the University of Wisconsin and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. A two-time All-Big Ten selection, the 6-foot-3 center back was a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy (NCAA player of the year) in 2013. The 20-year-old started 57 games and scored five goals in his career at Wisconsin.
“AJ was a player we had on our list,” said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. “He is a good center back and is going to provide some good competition. He is very good in the air, he is tough, and we like his attitude. He reminded us of Eddie Robinson, which is a good thing.”
COLLEGE
Three seasons at Wisconsin … 2013: Big Ten Defender of the Year … Started all 21 of the Badgers’ contests and scored three goals … Helped anchor defense to seven shutouts … 2012: First Team All-Big Ten, starting 19 games (1 goal, 2 assists) … Anchored defense that posted two separate shutout streaks of more than 200 minutes … 2011: As a freshman started in 18 games and posted one goal and three assists.
Played PDL in 2013, splitting time between Michigan Bucks and K-W United (Kitchener, ON, Canada).
YOUTH
Flood Plain Footy interview prior to Fall 2010 (senior) season
Attended Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis. He was Named 2010-11 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year … Helped lead Cadets to 3A state championship as a junior in 2009. He also played for St. Louis Scott Gallagher on the Academy team with Tomas Gomez, GK. He was named to U.S. Soccer Development Academy select team for the Spring Showcase in 2010.