Russ Cohen
American football player and coach, college athletics administrator
About Russ Cohen
Lived 1893 – 1981 (aged 88). Russ Cohen was an American american football player and head coach.
Henry Russell Cohen (February 13, 1893 – April 7, 1981) was an American college football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Louisiana State University (LSU) from 1928 to 1931 and at the University of Cincinnati from 1935 to 1937, compiling a career college football coaching record of 31–25–4.
Playing career Cohen played as a prominent end for Dan McGugin's Vanderbilt Commodores football teams, serving as captain of its "point-a-minute" Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) champion 1915 team, with the likes of Josh Cody and Irby Curry. Cohen was selected All-Southern the same year.
Coaching career Cohen was first hired by Josh Cody at Mercer. He then scouted teams for Wallace Wade at the University of Alabama.
LSU As was tradition for football coaches at the time, he also served as the athletics director at LSU during his tenure as head football coach. His record with the LSU Tigers was 23–13–1. McGugin recommended Cohen for the LSU job. Huey P. Long was an ardent supporter of the team.
Cohen's best year at LSU was probably his first, in 1928. Led by All-Southern captain Jess Tinsley, the Tigers posted a 6–2–1 record, suffering losses to Arkansas and Wade's Alabama. Star halfback Percy Brown broke his shoulder against Alabama. The tie was to Bill Banker and rival Tulane, which was as good as its ever been from 1929 to 1931. In 1931 LSU played its first night game in Tiger Stadium, a 31–0 victory over Spring Hill.
Cincinnati With the Cincinnati Bearcats, he compiled an 8–12–3 mark.
Head coaching record Last 5 games of season were coached by Wade Woodworth.
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Important facts
People in Russ Cohen's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Russ Cohen's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Russ Cohen?
American football player and coach, college athletics administrator (1893-1981)
When was Russ Cohen born?
Russ Cohen was born on 13 February 1893 in Augusta.
When did Russ Cohen die?
Russ Cohen died on 7 April 1981 in Waynesboro.
What was Russ Cohen's occupation?
Russ Cohen was an american football player and head coach.
What nationality was Russ Cohen?
Russ Cohen was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Russ Cohen. https://biography.guide/russ-cohen/
MLA: "Russ Cohen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/russ-cohen/.
Chicago: "Russ Cohen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/russ-cohen/.
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