A. J. Cooper

Last updated

A. J. Cooper
Current position
TitleLinebackers coach
Team Arizona State
Conference Big 12 Conference
Biographical details
Born Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Playing career
2002–2003 Glendale Community College
2004–2005 North Dakota State
2006 Green Bay Packers
Position(s) Tight end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2006–2008 North Dakota State (GA)
2009–2012North Dakota State (DE)
2013North Dakota State (STC/DE)
2014–2017 Wyoming (STC/DE)
2018Wyoming (Co-STC/DE)
2019Wyoming (Co-STC/DE/DRGC)
2020 Washington State (DE)
2021Washington State (DE/IDT)
2022Washington State (E/DRGC)
2023–present Arizona State (LB)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships

A. J. Cooper is an American football coach and former tight end. He has been an assistant coach for various college football programs since 2006. He currently is the Linebackers coach for Arizona State.

Contents

Playing career

Out of Sunnyslope High School where he played linebacker and tight end, Cooper went to Glendale Community College as a tight end. In 2004 he transferred to North Dakota State University, [1] where he was selected First Team All-Great West Football Conference as a senior. In 2006, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers, however he did not make the roster. [2]

Coaching career

North Dakota State

In 2006, Cooper started his coaching career at his alma mater working as a graduate assistant until 2008. In 2009 he was made the team's defensive ends coach. In 2013 he added the responsibility of being the Bisons’ special teams coordinator.

Wyoming

In 2014, Cooper went with Craig Bohl to Wyoming where he served as the defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator until the end of the 2019 season. [3] Additionally in 2019 he was the team's defensive run game coordinator.

Washington State

In 2020 Cooper joined Nick Rolovich’s inaugural staff at Washington State as the defensive ends coach. [4] [1] Amidst the 2021 season, after the firing of multiple coaches who refused to get vaccinated for COVID-19, [5] Cooper also took over responsibility for the entire defensive line adding defensive tackles to his plate. [6] In 2022 he was retained as the team's edges coach and added the title of defensive run game coordinator.

Arizona State

In December of 2022 he was named the linebackers coach for Arizona State.

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References

  1. 1 2 davis.potter@trib.com, Davis Potter (April 23, 2019). "AJ Cooper's familiarity making for smooth transition into new defensive role". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  2. "Packers Sign 12 Nondrafted Free Agents". www.packers.com. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  3. Lev, Michael (December 28, 2019). "Arizona Bowl: 'Phoenix kid' AJ Cooper spearheads Wyoming's sixth-ranked run defense". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  4. "Report: Nick Rolovich bringing Wyoming's Jake Dickert to WSU as defensive coordinator – The Seattle Times". www.seattletimes.com. January 20, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  5. "Bison Media Blog: Former NDSU coaches on opposite sides of Washington State vaccine dispute". InForum. October 19, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  6. "Washington State football fills out coaching staff". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved June 12, 2022.