The Mid-American Conference announced Tuesday the 2023 MAC Hall of Fame Induction Class and BGSU legendary coach Mickey Cochrane will be one of the five inductees in the class.

Cochrane is the 11th person affiliated with Bowling Green to be inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame and the first since former athlete, coach and administrator Dorothy Luedtke was inducted last year.

The MAC Hall of Fame was approved by the MAC Council of Presidents in 1987. The charter class was inducted in 1988 and subsequent classes were added in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994. After six induction classes, the MAC Hall of Fame maintained 52 members until it was reinstated in May of 2012. This year’s class brings the number of MAC Hall of Fame inductees to 119 individuals from 17 classes.

The 2023 MAC Hall of Fame class will be inducted on Thurs., June 1 at the Metropolitan at The 9 in Cleveland.

Cochrane, the father and architect of the Bowling Green State University men’s soccer and lacrosse programs, has earned nearly every award possible. He initiated both the soccer and lacrosse programs at BG in 1966, after serving as club coach of both sports at the University the year before.

On the soccer pitch, just seven short seasons after the sport’s inception at the varsity level, he coached the Falcons to the first of two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 1972. The Falcons also captured the Ohio Conference championship in 1973 enroute to that NCAA appearance.

By the time he stepped down from his coaching duties in 1977 (to concentrate on teaching as an associate professor in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation), Cochrane had compiled a 13-year record of 68-56-14 at BG, including a 61-39-10 mark over his final 10 seasons.

Cochrane received Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Coach-of-the-Year recognition on two occasions (1969 and 1972) and led the Falcons to an OCSA championship in ‘73. He was bestowed the OCSA’s Honor Award in 1989 and was inducted into the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993. He also is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame.

Cochrane was a member of the first NCAA Soccer Tournament selection committee that shaped the inaugural tourney in 1959. He received the NSCAA’s Letter of Commendation in 1964, served as the association’s president in 1969, was given the NSCAA’s prestigious Honor Award in 1978 (the association’s highest prize signifying lifetime service to the sport), and received the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America’s Jeffrey Award in 1984 for his work in the preservation of soccer history, records and memorabilia.

n lacrosse, Cochrane had an outstanding record of 88-24 in his 10 years as head coach. He led the Falcons to an undefeated season in 1970, securing the Midwest Lacrosse Association title and a Top Ten ranking by the Baltimore Sun newspaper. The Falcons also won MLA titles in 1974 and 1975. They participated in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association’s post season tournaments twice during his tenure.

Cochrane was named the USILA Coach of the Year in 1970 and coached in the Intercollegiate North – South All Star game in 1969 and 1974. He also coached the University’s Women’s Lacrosse team for a year. Cochrane was inducted into the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1995.

The soccer stadium at Bowling Green is named Cochrane Soccer Stadium in his honor.

Joining Cochrane in the 2023 class are Kourtney Brown (Buffalo), Ron Harper (Miami OH), Greg Jennings (Western Michigan) and Herb Page (Kent State).