Wadley, Ala.— Southern Union State Community College is proud to announce the hiring of Brandon Cobb as the new head coach of the Lady Bison softball program. Cobb officially takes the reins of a program with a long-standing tradition of excellence, both on and off the field.
He served as interim head coach for the Lady Bison during the second half of the 2024/25 season where they finished 20th in the nation after an appearance in the 2025 NJCAA Division I Softball World Series. He was named the 2025 National Junior College Athletic Association South Coach of the Year.
Cobb holds a deep respect for the program’s history and a clear vision for its future. “We will use the momentum from this past season’s successes to keep moving the program forward,” he said. “That all begins with recruiting good people who are great students, not just good softball players. I hope the stamp I leave on this program is one that is a continuation of the Southern Union tradition of excellence and winning with integrity and class.”
For Cobb, success is measured in more than championships. “My success is not measured in wins and losses,” he explained. “It is measured by how many of my players have earned a college degree, found a good career, and created a path for themselves to live a good life. That means more to me than any championship I have ever won.”
Cobb moves to the college level after stints as head coach at Handley and Beauregard High Schools. He acknowledges the unique challenges of coaching at the community college level, where rosters change quickly as athletes graduate or transfer. “We basically have to ‘rebuild’ our team every year, so it’s important to maintain a balance of freshmen and sophomores,” he said. His recruiting philosophy emphasizes both athletic ability and character: “I look at how players respond to adversity, how they treat their teammates and coaches, and how they carry themselves on and off the field. I want good kids who will hold themselves to a higher standard in the classroom and on the diamond.”
A key part of Cobb’s coaching approach is preparing athletes for the next level. “I hold them to a higher standard and try to prepare them for the demanding challenges they will be faced with at four-year colleges and universities,” he said. “We discuss in depth what to expect once they move on.”
Cobb also places a strong emphasis on community involvement, a hallmark of the Southern Union program. He plans to have the team actively engage in local initiatives such as reading to elementary school students, visiting nursing and retirement communities, hosting youth softball camps, and assisting civic organizations with community projects.
“Southern Union softball has a proud history, and I am honored to lead this program,” Cobb said. “I look forward to building on our tradition of excellence while shaping student-athletes who succeed on the field, in the classroom, and in life.”
