Georgia coach Kirby Smart confirmed the news that Scott Cochran would be stepping away from the Georgia football program on Sunday.

Smart released a statement on the matter.

“Coach Cochran is currently dealing with health issues and is taking time to prioritize his mental health and well-being,” Smart said. “We fully support him as he takes this time to focus on his well-being.”

Cochran serves as the special teams coordinator for the Georgia football program and was entering his second season after coming over from Alabama.

It is expected that Georgia analyst Will Muschamp will move into Cochran’s on-field role for the time being. Muschamp previously served as the head coach at Florida and South Carolina before joining Smart’s staff as an analyst in January.

Related: Will Muschamp poised to move into on-field role as Scott Cochran steps away from Georgia football

In 2020, Cochran helped Georgia have one of the nation’s top special teams units. All the key pieces from those units return in 2021, giving Georgia a significant edge in that aspect of the game.

Punter Jake Camarda returns after being a Ray Guy finalist in addition to winning SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2020. Kick Jack Podlesny is back as well after connecting on 13 of his 16 field goal attempts. Most notably he nailed a 53-yard kick to give Georgia a 24-21 win over Cincinnati in the Peach Bowl.

Cochran’s departure, which is just temporary at this point in time, comes right as the Bulldogs start fall camp. Georgia held its first practice on Friday as it gets ready for a season-opening game against Clemson.

The game against the Tigers is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff in Charlotte.

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