Wisconsin Soccer Central

A.J. Cochran (UW) is back home.

The center back signed with USL club Saint Louis FC on Sunday, joining his hometown team after spending the past two seasons with the Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.

"It is great to have A.J. Cochran back in St. Louis," Saint Louis FC coach Dale Schilly said in a news release.

Cochran was the Big Ten Conference Defender of the Year for the Badgers as a junior in 2013, then left UW to sign a Generation Adidas contract with MLS. The Dynamo selected him in the first round of the 2014 SuperDraft, No. 16 overall.

As a rookie, Cochran logged 1,370 minutes in 19 appearances (14 starts) for Houston, but he saw just 512 minutes in seven matches (five starts) under new coach Owen Coyle last year. He parted ways with the Dynamo following the 2015 season and had trials with fellow MLS clubs New York Red Bulls and Colorado Rapids in the past few months.

"Having watched A.J. develop over the years, I think Saint Louis FC fans can expect a hard-tackling and committed center back who is very brave in the air and a good box defender," Schilly said of the 23-year-old Cochran. "His quality mid-range and long-range passing will help generate attacks, and this addition will be good for all involved as we have quality center backs battling for playing time."

Saint Louis FC posted an 8-11-9 record and finished ninth out of 12 teams in the USL Eastern Conference in its debut season last year, and kicks off the 2016 season March 26 against Real Monarchs SLC on the road in Utah.

On Twitter: @Alec_Cochran

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