John Cooper (coach)
Encyclopedia
John Cooper is a former American football
player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Tulsa
(1977–1984), Arizona State University
(1985–1987), and Ohio State University
(1988–2000), compiling a career record of 192–84–6. Cooper was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
as a coach in 2008.
and joined the United States Army
after high school. After serving for two years, he enrolled at Iowa State University
where he played football for four years eventually becoming team captain and MVP
.
, UCLA
, Kansas
, and Kentucky
. In 1977, he was named the head football coach at the University of Tulsa
. At Tulsa, he compiled a 57–31 record with five Missouri Valley Conference
titles. He became the head coach at Arizona State
in 1985 where his teams played in three consecutive bowl game
s, including the 1987 Rose Bowl
, during his three-year tenure. Notably, he was just 0–2–1 against arch-rival Arizona
. He accepted the job as head coach at Ohio State on December 31, 1987. It is rumored that he became the front-runner for the head coaching position at Ohio State because of his 1987 Rose Bowl victory over Michigan
.
During his time in Columbus, he won shared Big Ten
titles in 1993, 1996, and 1998. In his 13 seasons at Ohio State Cooper compiled a 111–43–4 record, second in Ohio State history behind only Woody Hayes
. Among his most memorable victories at Ohio State were back-to-back victories against Notre Dame (1995 & 1996), 1997 Rose Bowl victory against Arizona State, and 1999 Sugar Bowl victory over Texas A&M. Cooper's teams at Ohio State were loaded with a great deal of talent that would go on to play in the National Football League, including: 1995 Heisman Trophy
winner Eddie George
, 1995 Fred Biletnikoff Award
winner Terry Glenn
, 1996 Outland Trophy
winner Orlando Pace
, 1998 Jim Thorpe Award
winner Antoine Winfield
, Alonzo Spellman
, Robert Smith
, Dan Wilkinson
, Joey Galloway
, Rickey Dudley
, Mike Vrabel
, Korey Stringer
, David Boston
, Shawn Springs
, Ahmed Plummer
, Na'il Diggs
, Nate Clements
, and Ryan Pickett
.
However, Cooper will be remembered for his 3-8 bowl record and his 2–10–1 record against rival Michigan. His most crippling losses to the Wolverines came in 1993, 1995, and 1996; each season, Ohio State entered the Michigan game undefeated and ranked in the top five, but came away with a gut-wrenching loss. In 1993 Ohio State was ranked #5 and heavily favored, only to be shut out by the Wolverines 28-0 and denied its first trip to Pasadena in almost 10 years. In 1995 Ohio State lost a #2 ranking, the Big Ten title, and another shot at the Rose Bowl by losing to the Wolverines, 31–23, in Ann Arbor. In 1996, the Buckeyes were again ranked #2 and had already secured a Rose Bowl berth when they faced Michigan. The Buckeyes smelled victory after shutting out the Wolverines in the first half, but Michigan rallied in the second half to upset the Buckeyes yet again, 13-9, costing them a chance at the national championship. Ohio State would go on to win the 1997 Rose Bowl against Arizona State and finish the season ranked #2. With this victory, Cooper became the first coach to win the Rose Bowl with a Pac Ten and a Big Ten team.
In 1997 Ohio State smelled revenge as it was Michigan who entered the game undefeated and Ohio State with the chance to play spoiler. However, the Wolverines again defeated the Buckeyes, 20-14. To add insult to injury, Michigan's win was sparked by the spectacular performance of Ohio native and 1997 Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson
, who made big plays on offense, defense, and special teams.
His dismal record against the school's arch-rival, a lackluster 3–8 bowl record, a bowl-less 6–6 season in 1999, and pervasive academic and discipline problems amongst his players led to Cooper's firing after the 2000 season.
of the NFL as a scouting consultant and also works as a college football analyst for ESPN
.
On May 1, 2008, Cooper was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
(1977–1984), Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
(1985–1987), and Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
(1988–2000), compiling a career record of 192–84–6. Cooper was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
as a coach in 2008.
Early years and playing career
Cooper grew up in the Knoxville suburb of Powell, TennesseePowell, Tennessee
Powell is an unincorporated community in Knox County, Tennessee, United States. The United States Geographic Names System classifies Powell as a populated place. The area is located in the Emory Road corridor, just north of Knoxville, southeast of Clinton, and east of Oak Ridge...
and joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
after high school. After serving for two years, he enrolled at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
where he played football for four years eventually becoming team captain and MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
.
Coaching career
Cooper spent time as an assistant coach at Iowa State, Oregon StateOregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
, UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, and Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. In 1977, he was named the head football coach at the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
. At Tulsa, he compiled a 57–31 record with five Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
titles. He became the head coach at Arizona State
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
in 1985 where his teams played in three consecutive bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
s, including the 1987 Rose Bowl
1987 Rose Bowl
The 1987 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. It was the 73rd Rose Bowl Game. The Arizona State Sun Devils, champions of the Pacific-10 Conference, defeated the Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, 22-15....
, during his three-year tenure. Notably, he was just 0–2–1 against arch-rival Arizona
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
. He accepted the job as head coach at Ohio State on December 31, 1987. It is rumored that he became the front-runner for the head coaching position at Ohio State because of his 1987 Rose Bowl victory over Michigan
1986 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1986 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1986 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
.
During his time in Columbus, he won shared Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
titles in 1993, 1996, and 1998. In his 13 seasons at Ohio State Cooper compiled a 111–43–4 record, second in Ohio State history behind only Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
. Among his most memorable victories at Ohio State were back-to-back victories against Notre Dame (1995 & 1996), 1997 Rose Bowl victory against Arizona State, and 1999 Sugar Bowl victory over Texas A&M. Cooper's teams at Ohio State were loaded with a great deal of talent that would go on to play in the National Football League, including: 1995 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Eddie George
Eddie George
Edward Nathan "Eddie" George, Jr. is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He played for the Tennessee Titans both in Tennessee and in Houston when the franchise was known as the Houston Oilers, and spent his final season with the Dallas Cowboys...
, 1995 Fred Biletnikoff Award
Fred Biletnikoff Award
The Fred Biletnikoff Award has been presented since 1994 to America's top college football receiver by the TQC Foundation, Inc. , an independent not-for-profit organization which created the award in 1994 and has sponsored it since...
winner Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn
Terry Tyree Glenn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
, 1996 Outland Trophy
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
winner Orlando Pace
Orlando Pace
Orlando Lamar Pace is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams first overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State. Pace has started all 16 games eight times and blocked for three straight NFL MVPs...
, 1998 Jim Thorpe Award
Jim Thorpe Award
The Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport legend Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in college football since 1986...
winner Antoine Winfield
Antoine Winfield
Antoine Winfield is an American football cornerback in the NFL. He played college football at The Ohio State University, winning the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back in 1998. Winfield was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. Since 2004, he...
, Alonzo Spellman
Alonzo Spellman
Alonzo Robert Spellman is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League who played for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and the Detroit Lions...
, Robert Smith
Robert Smith (football)
Robert Scott Smith is a former American football running back who played with the Ohio State Buckeyes and later with the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. While in college, he openly criticized the Ohio State football staff for not allowing him to concentrate on academics as he wanted to go to medical...
, Dan Wilkinson
Dan Wilkinson
Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson is a former defensive tackle who played 13 seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted 1st overall in the 1994 NFL Draft...
, Joey Galloway
Joey Galloway
Joseph Scott Galloway is an American football wide receiver. He most recently played for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks eighth overall in the 1995 NFL Draft...
, Rickey Dudley
Rickey Dudley
Rickey Deshun Dudley , is a former professional American football player. A 6'6", 252-lb. tight end from Ohio State University, Dudley was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the 1st round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
, Mike Vrabel
Mike Vrabel
Michael George "Mike" Vrabel is an assistant coach at Ohio State. He is a retired American football linebacker in the National Football League. Vrabel spent 14 seasons in the NFL, having played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs...
, Korey Stringer
Korey Stringer
Korey Damont Stringer was an American football player who died from complications brought on by heat stroke, during training camp in Mankato, Minnesota while in training camp with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.-College career:Stringer was born in Warren, Ohio and attended...
, David Boston
David Boston
David Byron Boston is a professional football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals eighth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
, Shawn Springs
Shawn Springs
Shawn Springs is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks third overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State....
, Ahmed Plummer
Ahmed Plummer
Ahmed Kamil Plummer is a former NFL player who played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers from 2000-2005. A 5'11", 191 lb. cornerback from Ohio State University, Plummer was selected by the 49ers in the 1st round in the 2000 NFL Draft...
, Na'il Diggs
Na'il Diggs
Na'il Diggs is an American football linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State. Diggs has also played for the Carolina Panthers and St. Louis Rams...
, Nate Clements
Nate Clements
Nathan D. Clements is an American football cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills 21st overall in the 2001 NFL Draft...
, and Ryan Pickett
Ryan Pickett
-St. Louis Rams:Pickett was selected with the 29th pick of the first round in the 2001 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. On July 28, 2001, Pickett signed a five-year, $5.995 million contract with the Rams. Pickett's contract includes a $2.615 million signing bonuses...
.
However, Cooper will be remembered for his 3-8 bowl record and his 2–10–1 record against rival Michigan. His most crippling losses to the Wolverines came in 1993, 1995, and 1996; each season, Ohio State entered the Michigan game undefeated and ranked in the top five, but came away with a gut-wrenching loss. In 1993 Ohio State was ranked #5 and heavily favored, only to be shut out by the Wolverines 28-0 and denied its first trip to Pasadena in almost 10 years. In 1995 Ohio State lost a #2 ranking, the Big Ten title, and another shot at the Rose Bowl by losing to the Wolverines, 31–23, in Ann Arbor. In 1996, the Buckeyes were again ranked #2 and had already secured a Rose Bowl berth when they faced Michigan. The Buckeyes smelled victory after shutting out the Wolverines in the first half, but Michigan rallied in the second half to upset the Buckeyes yet again, 13-9, costing them a chance at the national championship. Ohio State would go on to win the 1997 Rose Bowl against Arizona State and finish the season ranked #2. With this victory, Cooper became the first coach to win the Rose Bowl with a Pac Ten and a Big Ten team.
In 1997 Ohio State smelled revenge as it was Michigan who entered the game undefeated and Ohio State with the chance to play spoiler. However, the Wolverines again defeated the Buckeyes, 20-14. To add insult to injury, Michigan's win was sparked by the spectacular performance of Ohio native and 1997 Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson
Charles Woodson
Charles C. Woodson is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He played college football at the University of Michigan for the Michigan Wolverines. In 1997, Woodson led the Wolverines to a national championship...
, who made big plays on offense, defense, and special teams.
His dismal record against the school's arch-rival, a lackluster 3–8 bowl record, a bowl-less 6–6 season in 1999, and pervasive academic and discipline problems amongst his players led to Cooper's firing after the 2000 season.
Later life and honors
Cooper currently works for the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
of the NFL as a scouting consultant and also works as a college football analyst for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
On May 1, 2008, Cooper was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
.
Head coaching record
See also
- List of presidents of the American Football Coaches Association
- Legends PollLegends PollThe Legends Poll is a college football poll that rates the Top 25 teams weekly during the college football season. Its aim is to identify the two best teams in its opinion by the end of the season to compete in the BCS national championship game. The group is currently made up of 17 retired...