Jeff Cohen (sports executive)
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Jeff Cohen
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| alma_mater = Brandeis University
| admin_years1 = 1969–81
| admin_team1 = Boston Celtics (Asst. GM)
| admin_years2 = 1981–82
| admin_team2 = Kansas City Kings (GM)
| admin_years3 = 1982–83
| admin_team3 = Boston Breakers (EVP)
| admin_years4 = 1986–2004
| admin_team4 = Brandeis
| championships = 5× NBA Finals champion (1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976)
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Jeffrey Cohen is an American sports executive who served as general manager of the Kansas City Kings from 1981 to 1982 and athletic director at Brandeis University from 1986 to 2004. Before joining the Kings, Cohen spent 16 years with the Boston Celtics, rising to the position of assistant general manager.
Early life
Cohen is the son of Sam Cohen, a sports editor for The Boston Record, the Boston Record American, and the Boston Herald American. The elder Cohen was close friends with Boston Celtics head coach and general manager Red Auerbach.{{cite news |last1=Singelals |first1=Neil |title=Cohen steps out of the shadows |work=The Boston Globe |date=February 17, 1981}}
NBA
Cohen graduated in 1964 from Brandeis University, where he majored in history. After doing graduate work at the University of California and working for the Baltimore News-American, he joined the Celtics as a part-time assistant to publicist Howie McHugh. In 1969, he became the club's assistant general manager. In 1979, he interviewed to become general manager of the Kansas City Kings but was passed over in favor of John Begzos. The position opened up again a year later, and on January 23, 1981, the Kings announced Cohen as their new GM. He joined the team on March 1, 1981.{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Bob |title=Celtics' Cohen Named Kings' GM |work=The Boston Globe |date=January 23, 1981}} His stint in Kansas City lasted just over a year, as on April 30, 1982, the Kings announced that former general manager Joe Axelson would be returning to the club.{{cite news |title=Axelson Rejoins Kings |work=The New York Times |date=May 1, 1982}} In his only season as GM, the Kings failed to follow up a surprise conference finals run by finishing 30-52 and missing the playoffs.{{cite news |last1=Whiteside |first1=Larry |title=The would-be Kings |work=The Boston Globe |date=April 15, 1981}}{{cite web |title=1981-82 Kansas City Kings Roster and Stats |website=Basketball Reference |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/KCK/1982.html |access-date=23 December 2022}}
Brandeis
In September 1982, Cohen was named executive vice president of the Boston Breakers of the newly-formed United States Football League.{{cite news |last1=Tweedy |first1=Jack |title=Sports Log |work=The Boston Globe |date=September 2, 1982}} The team lasted only one season in Boston before leaving for New Orleans.{{cite book|title=The United States Football League, 1982-1986|last=Reeths|first=Paul|publisher=McFarland & Company|date=2017|isbn=978-1476667447}} Cohen did not move with the team, instead joining the development office at Brandeis.{{cite news |last1=Madden |first1=Michael |title=Toney Meets His Match |work=The Boston Globe |date=January 28, 1984}} In 1986, he became the school's athletic director. During his tenure as AD, Brandeis joined the University Athletic Association, constructed a $25 million sports complex which included the Red Auerbach Arena, launched an athletic hall of fame, hosted the 1998 NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships and 1999 NCAA Fencing Championships, and hired former Celtics head coach Chris Ford to coach its men's basketball team.{{cite news |last1=Monahan |first1=Bob |title=Brandeis Steps Up to the UAA |work=The Boston Globe |date=May 24, 1987}}{{cite news |last1=Pave |first1=Marvin |title=Ground-Breaking at Brandeis |work=The Boston Globe |date=March 25, 1990}}{{cite news |last1=Pave |first1=Marvin |title=Brandeis readies opening of Red Auerbach Arena |work=The Boston Globe |date=January 5, 1992}}{{cite news |last1=Pave |first1=Marvin |title=Brandeis to launch a hall of fame |work=The Boston Globe |date=September 8, 1991}}{{cite news |last1=Blaudschun |first1=Mark |title=It's Back to School for Ford |work=The Boston Globe |date=October 2, 2001}} In 1999, he was named the Jostens-Eastern College Athletic Conference Male Administrator of the Year.{{cite news |last1=Pave |first1=Marvin |title=Brandeis's Cohen is administrator of the year |work=The Boston Globe |date=October 3, 1999}} In January 2004, Cohen abruptly resigned from Brandeis, telling The Boston Globe that he was leaving because "lame duck is not a good thing to be. I'd be in the way. I love Brandeis, and I don't want to be in the way".{{cite news |last1=Noonan |first1=Erica |title=Longtime Brandeis Athletic Director Resigns |work=The Boston Globe |date=February 1, 2004}} Later that year, he moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to become the director of athletic programs for the United States Fencing Association.{{cite news |last1=Pave |first1=Marvin |title=Middle School Pumps Up Students About Getting on Track |work=The Boston Globe |date=August 8, 2004}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Sacramento Kings general manager navbox}}
{{Brandeis Judges athletic director navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohen, Jeff}}
Category:Boston Celtics executives
Category:Brandeis University alumni
Category:Brandeis Judges athletic directors