Cohen Named Assistant Coach at JMU

Baseball is life for Brandon Cohen of River Edge and he will continue his involvement with the game after being hired as the assistant coach at James Madison University.

The 27-year-old former and Seton Hall University outfielder/first baseman will serve as the hitting instructor and third base coach.

"We're excited about Brandon joining our staff," commented head coach Spanky McFarland in a press release. "He brings a lot of experience, both as a college player and as a professional. He fits our program. He was an outfielder and can work with them. He can help with throwing [batting practice] and is a left-handed hitter, so he can work with those guys. He has to learn the college game and recruiting, but those things will come. He wants to make this his career and we're happy to have him."

During his time at , Cohen was coached by current head coach Brandon Flanagan and led his senior year squad in a 24-6 run as the BCSL Champs and state qualifier. He was named to the 1st Team All Bergen County and Bergen County Player of the Year his senior year.

"It's an honor and a privilege to be a part of this program," said Cohen of joining the JMU staff in a release." It's a wonderful program full of tradition. To be able to work under Spanky and Jay [Sullenger] and Ted [White] is a wonderful learning experience and I hope that I can do whatever I can in my power to help this team repeat with another CAA championship and reach another regional and go all the way to the College World Series."

After graduating , Cohen who was drafted by the Minnesota Twins, attended Seton Hall University for a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and eanred a four-year starting position with the Pirates. Team captain in 2005 and 2006, he earned New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association Second Team All-State honors.

A top outfielder/first baseman, Cohen previously played for the Rockford RiverHawks in the independent Frontier League following his 2006 graduation from Seton Hall. In his final season with the RiverHawks, he hit .310 with seven home runs and 30 RBI in 48 games. He hit 19 home runs, tied for fourth on the all-time RiverHawks list, in parts of three seasons with Rockford.

He was traded to the Evansville Otters following the 2009 season with the RiverHawks. During the 2010 season with the Otters he had 9 homeruns and 46 RBI out of 43 games, hitting .245. He also split time that season with the Otters with the Florence Freedom for a combined 15 doubles, 14 home runs and 62 RBIs in 84 games.

During the offseasons he has worked as a hitting instructor in Northern New Jersey and gained his first coaching experience with the New Jersey Twins prospect summer team. He also served as a hitting and field coach with the Willmar (Minn.) Stingers of the Northwoods League, a summer collegiate league.