Adam Cohen
Assistant Coach
Adam Cohen was named to the Vanderbilt men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach in May of 2014.
Cohen is responsible for recruiting, scouting, and player development with the Commodores. Known for his tireless work ethic and ability to develop players, Cohen has quickly established himself as one of the top up and coming coaches in the country.
Cohen, from Buffalo, N.Y., spent the 2013-14 season at Harvard, where he helped the Crimson set program records for overall wins (27) and conference victories (13) en route to the team’s fourth consecutive Ivy League title and a third straight appearance in the NCAA tournament. During March Madness, the 12th-seeded Crimson knocked off fifth-seeded Cincinnati in the tournament’s second round, and nearly pulled off an upset of fourth-seeded Michigan State to reach the Sweet 16. Harvard also won the Great Alaska Shootout along the way, and a record six Crimson were named to the All-Ivy League teams, including player of the year Wesley Saunders ‘15.
Prior to his arrival at Harvard, Cohen spent a year at Rice University where he was involved in the Owls’ recruiting efforts. He recruited current Owl star Marcus Jackson and also helped mentor Max Guercy, who was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team after garnering five freshman of the week honors.
Prior to joining the Rice staff, Cohen spent three seasons at Southern California where he climbed the ranks from video coordinator to director of basketball operations. During his final season at USC, Cohen was responsible for assisting in scouting preparation, film exchange and breakdown, and oversight of USC basketball camps. He also served as a liaison with the compliance department and worked closely with student-athletes on their academic progress.
Cohen began his coaching career in 2008-09 as a graduate assistant at New Orleans, after receiving his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Arizona in 2008. With the Wildcats, Cohen served as a student manager and assistant video coordinator for three years under Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson. Cohen worked with six future NBA players while with the Wildcats and aided the program to 59 total wins and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Cohen currently serves on the Board of Directors for Rising Coaches Elite, an organization created by collegiate coaches for collegiate coaches that offers collaborative assistance, networking and avenues for career growth. He has also worked numerous summer camps, including Five Star, Arizona, Buffalo and USC. He also ran a camp in Chengdu, China during the summer of 2007 for Nike Basketball.
Cohen attended Williamsville North High School in Buffalo, N.Y., and was a two-year letterwinner in basketball and captained the team as a senior.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the great community and culture that is Vanderbilt basketball,” said Cohen. “Coach Stallings has built a fantastic program and has established success both on and off the court. His vision truly excites me, and I will strive to carry on that tradition. I also want to thank Tommy Amaker for his guidance and tutelage in my time at Harvard. I look forward to helping Vanderbilt climb to the top of the SEC on a consistent basis. Anchor Down!”