ATHENS — Former Georgia special teams coordinator Scott Cochran is no longer on the Bulldogs’ staff.

UGA announced that Cochran and offensive analyst Darrell Dickey “resigned to purse other opportunities” late Wednesday morning.

Per the school’s late morning release, Kirk Benedict, who has served on Kirby Smart’s staff as special teams analyst the last two seasons, will be promoted to special teams coordinator.

“I want to thank Scott and Darrell for their contributions to Georgia football. We wish them all the best moving forward,” Smart said.

Smart hired Cochran, a former national strength coach of the year at Alabama, in February of 2020 to an on-field coaching position that he had desperately wanted with the Crimson Tide.

The hire was viewed by some as a gamble at the time, with Smart affording Cochran an opportunity that Nick Saban would not in Tuscaloosa.

It was also complex time to bring a new position coach on board, to be sure, as Covid restrictions prevented Cochran from having the full effect on player relations and the recruiting trail that some had anticipated.

Cochran faced more challenges later that year in August, when he stepped away from the UGA team to focus on his mental health.

Smart issued the following release at that time:

“Coach Cochran is currently dealing with health issues and is taking time to prioritize his mental health and well-being. We fully support him as he takes this time to focus on his well-being.”

Cochran’s departure back then led to Will Muschamp elevating his role from analyst to co-defensive coordinator, as Georgia had an on-field staff position to fill.

Muschamp had joined the Bulldogs’ staff as a defensive analyst during UGA’s preparation for the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl after being fired from his previous position as South Carolina head coach.

Muschamp has since moved back down into the role of analyst, wanting to spend more time with his family.

Smart and Georgia had stood behind Cochran during his leave of absence, bringing him back on staff just more than a year later, in October of 2021.

“He’s going to be assisting the special teams staff and helping contribute in an off-field role for the rest of the season,” Smart said at that time. “Happy to have him back.

“Hopefully, going to keep him safe and healthy throughout that process, during the recovery process, but we’re glad to have his energy and enthusiasm back and he’ll help us kind of on an off the field role with special teams.”

Georgia won two national championships with Cochran helping the staff, in 2021 and 2022, before a third-straight undefeated regular season en route to a 13-1 record that included a record-breaking 63-3 Orange Bowl win over Florida State and a No. 3 national ranking.