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Skull Session: Mastering the Mental Game in Sports, Work, and Life
The most famous strength and conditioning coach in college football uses his story of hitting rock bottom and clawing his way back to success to inspire audiences in life, business and sports.
Few names in college football command respect like Scott Cochran, affectionately known as "Coach Yeah," the 8-time National Championship-winning strength and conditioning coach whose booming voice and relentless energy turned boys into champions at Alabama and Georgia. But behind the rings, ESPN appearances, and hall-of-fame-level hype, Cochran faced an opponent far tougher than any SEC addiction.
Skull Session is his no-holds-barred account of rising to the top, falling hard, and clawing his way back with faith, grit, and the unwavering belief that champions are built in the mind as well as on the field. If Cochran is known for anything, it’s using his distinct voice to turn go-getters into champions. In this motivational book, Cochran blends raw personal testimony with the essential principles that have shaped some of the NFL's greatest stars, including Derrick Henry, Julio Jones, and Minkah Fitzpatrick.
This is a playbook for life. Each chapter centers on a core principle learned in what Cochran calls "skull sessions"—mental-development meetings that taught his players (and himself) to confront their fears, failures, and ambitions head-on. From his near-fatal overdose to his spiritual reawakening, Cochran reveals how he rebuilt his life one day at a time.
Perfect for sports fans, self-improvement readers, and anyone seeking redemption, Skull Session is the ultimate underdog story. It's a testament to the truth that no matter how many times you fall, you can rise again—and rise stronger.
Few names in college football command respect like Scott Cochran, affectionately known as "Coach Yeah," the 8-time National Championship-winning strength and conditioning coach whose booming voice and relentless energy turned boys into champions at Alabama and Georgia. But behind the rings, ESPN appearances, and hall-of-fame-level hype, Cochran faced an opponent far tougher than any SEC addiction.
Skull Session is his no-holds-barred account of rising to the top, falling hard, and clawing his way back with faith, grit, and the unwavering belief that champions are built in the mind as well as on the field. If Cochran is known for anything, it’s using his distinct voice to turn go-getters into champions. In this motivational book, Cochran blends raw personal testimony with the essential principles that have shaped some of the NFL's greatest stars, including Derrick Henry, Julio Jones, and Minkah Fitzpatrick.
This is a playbook for life. Each chapter centers on a core principle learned in what Cochran calls "skull sessions"—mental-development meetings that taught his players (and himself) to confront their fears, failures, and ambitions head-on. From his near-fatal overdose to his spiritual reawakening, Cochran reveals how he rebuilt his life one day at a time.
Perfect for sports fans, self-improvement readers, and anyone seeking redemption, Skull Session is the ultimate underdog story. It's a testament to the truth that no matter how many times you fall, you can rise again—and rise stronger.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 19, 2025
6 people are currently reading
2346 people want to read
About the author
Scott Cochran
3 books6 followersScott Cochran is an American college football coach and published author, primarily known for his work as a strength and conditioning coach at prominent programs like LSU and Alabama, and as a special teams coordinator at Georgia. He is currently the head football coach at West Alabama.
He has written a number of books, such as:
"Skull Session: Mastering the Mental Game in Sports, Work, and Life": In August 2025, Hachette's Center Street imprint published Cochran's sports memoir and leadership book, co-written with Ivan Maisel.
Focus on Mental Health and Addiction: The book draws on his personal experiences, including his journey of recovery from opioid addiction, to share his message about mental toughness and resilience both on and off the field.
"Eliminate the Whisper": Cochran is also a leading voice behind "Eliminate the Whisper", a movement aimed at combating the stigma surrounding mental health and addiction struggles.
In his coaching and authorship, Scott Cochran emphasizes mental and emotional well-being as crucial components of achieving success, both in sports and in life.
He has written a number of books, such as:
"Skull Session: Mastering the Mental Game in Sports, Work, and Life": In August 2025, Hachette's Center Street imprint published Cochran's sports memoir and leadership book, co-written with Ivan Maisel.
Focus on Mental Health and Addiction: The book draws on his personal experiences, including his journey of recovery from opioid addiction, to share his message about mental toughness and resilience both on and off the field.
"Eliminate the Whisper": Cochran is also a leading voice behind "Eliminate the Whisper", a movement aimed at combating the stigma surrounding mental health and addiction struggles.
In his coaching and authorship, Scott Cochran emphasizes mental and emotional well-being as crucial components of achieving success, both in sports and in life.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 26, 2025
As a college football fan, I’ve known about Scott Cochran— the legendary strength coach — for years, but I had no idea about his battles with addiction. This book is not only a great inside look at the mechanics of college football, it is a handbook for building a healthy mindset for oneself and for an entire organization. I loved the behind-the-curtain stories of Alabama football during its national championship run, as well as the practical life advice about positive self-talk and setting realistic goals. And it was written with the assistance of Ivan Maisel, a seasoned sports journalist I’ve followed for many years!
An easy, but very impactful, read.
An easy, but very impactful, read.
August 3, 2025
Thank you to #NetGalley, #HachetteAudio, and #CenterStreetBooks for the opportunity to preview Skull Session: Mastering the Mental Game in Sports, Work, and Life written by Scott Cochran (with Ivan Maisel) and narrated by Coach Cochran. The description of the book was compelling on a number of levels based on my personal and professional background and I am a fan of college and professional football (definitely not to the level and familiarity that many readers will be, but enough that I recognized most of the individuals mentioned by Coach Cochran).
The initial draw was Cochran's story of recovery (all told in retrospect within a high-profile and high-stress arena and, at least partly, during the pandemic shutdown). The other aspect I really enjoyed was the positive messaging throughout the book about the importance and invaluable rewards of teaching and mentoring youth.
Coach Cochran talked about his own upbringing, his adhered to levels of discipline and goal-setting, and combined the narratives of his grit and determination in becoming an outstanding strength coach while later succumbing to daily addiction to opioids and stimulants.. He talks about his willfulness and selfishness, especially during active addiction and relapses, and how he was forced to repeatedly humble himself to get well and stay well. Eventually, he combined these aspects to become a better mentor and coach.
Ultimately this was a story of grace -- that he is still alive and sober and also continues to be valued for his coaching abilities (to the degree that his ultimate dream of becoming a head football coach - for University of West Alabama - came to fruition).
The destruction caused by opioid addiction and the number of lives lost is no longer a private or marginalized topic in our current world. #SkullSession is a harrowing story of addiction and a nearly fatal overdose and then a story of redemption with some practical feedback on living a goal-oriented and connected life.
For a compact, 5-hour book, Cochran is an effective narrator and I'm grateful to have listened to it in exchange for an unbiased review. For anyone interested in the above topics, you will not be disappointed and I highly recommend the audiobook. I wish Coach Cochran continued sobriety and grace in his recovery journey and in all of his pursuits. It's a story that's easy to root for.
The initial draw was Cochran's story of recovery (all told in retrospect within a high-profile and high-stress arena and, at least partly, during the pandemic shutdown). The other aspect I really enjoyed was the positive messaging throughout the book about the importance and invaluable rewards of teaching and mentoring youth.
Coach Cochran talked about his own upbringing, his adhered to levels of discipline and goal-setting, and combined the narratives of his grit and determination in becoming an outstanding strength coach while later succumbing to daily addiction to opioids and stimulants.. He talks about his willfulness and selfishness, especially during active addiction and relapses, and how he was forced to repeatedly humble himself to get well and stay well. Eventually, he combined these aspects to become a better mentor and coach.
Ultimately this was a story of grace -- that he is still alive and sober and also continues to be valued for his coaching abilities (to the degree that his ultimate dream of becoming a head football coach - for University of West Alabama - came to fruition).
The destruction caused by opioid addiction and the number of lives lost is no longer a private or marginalized topic in our current world. #SkullSession is a harrowing story of addiction and a nearly fatal overdose and then a story of redemption with some practical feedback on living a goal-oriented and connected life.
For a compact, 5-hour book, Cochran is an effective narrator and I'm grateful to have listened to it in exchange for an unbiased review. For anyone interested in the above topics, you will not be disappointed and I highly recommend the audiobook. I wish Coach Cochran continued sobriety and grace in his recovery journey and in all of his pursuits. It's a story that's easy to root for.
August 27, 2025
Coach Cochran's memoir is like the football version of Tuesdays with Morrie—bolder, stronger, powerful, unflinching, unapologetic, and hitting straight home. The ghosts that dog us come in forms we have yet to identify. This book helps you cross that bridge through self-introspection.
Coach talks about incidents and situations from his life that left a profound impact in shaping his own life, and his honest retelling of how addiction took a toll on his professional and personal life. He correlates his experience coping with the habit as well as his experiences coaching different teams to bring out their essence, and breaks down the ultimate essence that is palatable to the listener.
I listened to the Audiobook advanced review copy (with gratitude to Hachette Audio and NetGalley), and getting to hear it straight from Coach Cochran was not only a treat, but got the respect from me as well. I found myself sitting upright during the entire narration, and I did not/could not slouch even once.
Like all good, inspirational coaches, Coach Cochran speaks with authority and confidence, speaking throughout as if he was actually talking into the microphone to an audience of 2000 at a stadium.
Two of the most adrenaline-pumped hours without breaking a sweat!
Powerful. Clear. Inspirational. Period.
Coach told the team, "You're going to take a hit. How you respond is more important than taking the hit. Toughness is not what young players think it is. Its not just beating the hell of the guy across the line. That's why I talked about commitment and discipline before i got to the toughness.
The definition of toughness is not merely physical. You've got to be mentally tough on and off the field. Being committed to the process and having discipline and effort to do it is going to be tough. Being able to not look at the scoreboard is going to be tough. Being able to not talk back to coaches will be tough. Not ever talking to an official will be tough."
Coach talks about incidents and situations from his life that left a profound impact in shaping his own life, and his honest retelling of how addiction took a toll on his professional and personal life. He correlates his experience coping with the habit as well as his experiences coaching different teams to bring out their essence, and breaks down the ultimate essence that is palatable to the listener.
I listened to the Audiobook advanced review copy (with gratitude to Hachette Audio and NetGalley), and getting to hear it straight from Coach Cochran was not only a treat, but got the respect from me as well. I found myself sitting upright during the entire narration, and I did not/could not slouch even once.
Like all good, inspirational coaches, Coach Cochran speaks with authority and confidence, speaking throughout as if he was actually talking into the microphone to an audience of 2000 at a stadium.
Two of the most adrenaline-pumped hours without breaking a sweat!
Powerful. Clear. Inspirational. Period.
January 5, 2026
What a fabulous read from a family I know and love. Just because you have heard the story doesn’t mean you know all of the behind the scenes. Scott tells some secrets and antidotes about his successes and failures. The reader can feel his pain and suffering but also feel the hope of overcoming his addiction. Scott and Cissy are a model of success in even the most dire of times. Love them and love this!
August 20, 2025
Skull Session is not just a thriller—it’s a dark meditation on memory, madness, and the secrets families bury. With its blend of psychological tension and gothic storytelling, Cochran’s novel will appeal to fans of writers like Jonathan Kellerman, Tana French, or early Stephen King. It’s a chilling read that lingers long after the final page.
October 1, 2025
Outstanding story of how we come back from addiction and how the most important people in our lives are there when we need them the most. Cissy Cochran may be real hero of the story. God Bless Scott in his sobriety.
December 3, 2025
Highly recommend to anyone!!!!
As an Alabama graduate and someone who worked with football, I saw Scott Cochran in action. His incredible story & lessons are a great read - and a reminder that you never know what someone else is going through.
As an Alabama graduate and someone who worked with football, I saw Scott Cochran in action. His incredible story & lessons are a great read - and a reminder that you never know what someone else is going through.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews