John Miller Cooper
Encyclopedia
John Miller Cooper was an American educator. He is also regarded as one of the early innovators of the basketball
jump shot and as a pioneer in the field of biomechanics
and human movement.
in 1912. He was the oldest of six children born to Clay Calhoun Cooper, a cattleman, and Martha Barrett Randolph, a homemaker
and boarding house
operator.
He attended Corydon High School (now closed) in Henderson County, Kentucky, transferring to Hopkinsville High School
in Hopkinsville, Kentucky
, in his senior year.
Cooper received his Bachelor's
in physics
from the University of Missouri
(MU). He later received his Masters'
and Doctorate degrees in Education from that same institution.
Cooper's doctoral studies were interrupted in 1940, when he joined the U.S. Army Air Forces. Cooper served 40 months in the military, achieving the rank of Captain, before being honorably discharged so that he might resume his studies.
According to journalist Bill Pennington, writing in the New York Times in 2011, the origins of the "jumper" are a matter of significant scholarly dispute:
According to Cooper himself, he learned the revolutionary shooting technique by watching a player from the University of Chicago
team practicing at his high school's gym.
"The ball came off the board; he jumped and shot it back in, in mid-air," Cooper later recalled, noting that in the early days of the game shots were taken from a stationary position on the floor and that players catching the ball in mid-air would only throw the ball at the basket if they had no place to pass it.
Inspired by what he had seen, Cooper intentionally practiced jumping and shooting the ball in mid-air during his high school career and brought the shot with him to MU. At MU, he was named All-Conference in the former Big Six Conference
in 1932.
Cooper's coach, George Edwards, was secretary of the College Basketball Coaches Association at the time and during one of their meetings, he asked his colleagues whether they had ever seen a player make regular use of the jump shot technique in game action. The coaches said they had not, lending credence to the assertion that Cooper was the first collegiate player to make use of the offensive innovation.
The Basketball Hall of Fame
, in Springfield, Massachusetts
, has thus far rejected Cooper's claim to fame as originator of the jumper at the collegiate level, instead recognizing Kenny Sailors as the father of the technique.
"Sailors was after my time," Cooper later remembered. "He took the jump shot into the pros."
, where he taught kinesiology
at the University of Southern California
(USC) until 1966. While there, Cooper co-authored textbooks in kinesiology with his colleagues on the USC staff.
In 1966, Cooper decided to return to his midwestern roots, accepting a position at Indiana University
(IU). Cooper remained at IU until his retirement in 1982.
Known internationally as the father of modern biomechanics and human movement, Cooper was the recipient of numerous prestigious honors. Noted for his unique and pioneering work in the field of kinesiology, the National Academy of Kinesiology sponsored a national lectureship in his name. In 1994, Cooper was awarded the Hetherington Award by the National Academy, and in 1995, he was the recipient of the Luther Gulich Award
, the highest honor given in the field of Kinesiology.
In 1991, he was inducted into the MU's Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.
Cooper was eulogized
by David M. Koceja, chair of IU's Department of Kinesiology:
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
jump shot and as a pioneer in the field of biomechanics
Biomechanics
Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles to biological systems, such as humans, animals, plants, organs, and cells. Perhaps one of the best definitions was provided by Herbert Hatze in 1974: "Biomechanics is the study of the structure and function of biological systems by means of...
and human movement.
Early years
Cooper was born in Smith Mills, KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in 1912. He was the oldest of six children born to Clay Calhoun Cooper, a cattleman, and Martha Barrett Randolph, a homemaker
Homemaker
Homemaking is a mainly American term for the management of a home, otherwise known as housework, housekeeping or household management...
and boarding house
Boarding house
A boarding house, is a house in which lodgers rent one or more rooms for one or more nights, and sometimes for extended periods of weeks, months and years. The common parts of the house are maintained, and some services, such as laundry and cleaning, may be supplied. They normally provide "bed...
operator.
He attended Corydon High School (now closed) in Henderson County, Kentucky, transferring to Hopkinsville High School
Hopkinsville High School
Hopkinsville High School is a four-year public high school located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, with over 1,000 students. It is operated by the Christian County Public Schools school district.-History:...
in Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Hopkinsville is a city in Christian County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 31,577 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Christian County.- History :...
, in his senior year.
Cooper received his Bachelor's
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
(MU). He later received his Masters'
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and Doctorate degrees in Education from that same institution.
Cooper's doctoral studies were interrupted in 1940, when he joined the U.S. Army Air Forces. Cooper served 40 months in the military, achieving the rank of Captain, before being honorably discharged so that he might resume his studies.
Jump shot innovator
Cooper earned varsity letters in three separate sports at MU, including basketball. He is recognized by some basketball scholars as an early innovators of the jump shot, being perhaps the first college basketball player to use the technique as his primary offensive weapon.According to journalist Bill Pennington, writing in the New York Times in 2011, the origins of the "jumper" are a matter of significant scholarly dispute:
"Basketball historians have narrowed the jump shot incubation period to the early 1930s. And they have focused on a handful of athletes, with Cooper, a college teenager eager to be airborne in a flat-footed, set-shot-taking world, at center stage."
According to Cooper himself, he learned the revolutionary shooting technique by watching a player from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
team practicing at his high school's gym.
"The ball came off the board; he jumped and shot it back in, in mid-air," Cooper later recalled, noting that in the early days of the game shots were taken from a stationary position on the floor and that players catching the ball in mid-air would only throw the ball at the basket if they had no place to pass it.
Inspired by what he had seen, Cooper intentionally practiced jumping and shooting the ball in mid-air during his high school career and brought the shot with him to MU. At MU, he was named All-Conference in the former Big Six Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
in 1932.
Cooper's coach, George Edwards, was secretary of the College Basketball Coaches Association at the time and during one of their meetings, he asked his colleagues whether they had ever seen a player make regular use of the jump shot technique in game action. The coaches said they had not, lending credence to the assertion that Cooper was the first collegiate player to make use of the offensive innovation.
The Basketball Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
, in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, has thus far rejected Cooper's claim to fame as originator of the jumper at the collegiate level, instead recognizing Kenny Sailors as the father of the technique.
"Sailors was after my time," Cooper later remembered. "He took the jump shot into the pros."
Kinesiologist
In 1945, Cooper moved to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he taught kinesiology
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Applications of kinesiology to human health include: biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational...
at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC) until 1966. While there, Cooper co-authored textbooks in kinesiology with his colleagues on the USC staff.
In 1966, Cooper decided to return to his midwestern roots, accepting a position at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
(IU). Cooper remained at IU until his retirement in 1982.
Known internationally as the father of modern biomechanics and human movement, Cooper was the recipient of numerous prestigious honors. Noted for his unique and pioneering work in the field of kinesiology, the National Academy of Kinesiology sponsored a national lectureship in his name. In 1994, Cooper was awarded the Hetherington Award by the National Academy, and in 1995, he was the recipient of the Luther Gulich Award
Luther Gulick (physician)
Luther Halsey Gulick, Jr. MD was an American physical education instructor, international basketball official, and founder with his wife of the Camp Fire Girls, an international youth organization now known as Camp Fire USA.-Life:...
, the highest honor given in the field of Kinesiology.
In 1991, he was inducted into the MU's Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.
Death and legacy
Cooper died on September 18, 2010, in Studio City, California, at the age of 98. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Charlianna.Cooper was eulogized
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
by David M. Koceja, chair of IU's Department of Kinesiology:
"[Cooper] was one of the most widely known researchers, authors, and educators in the history of kinesiology. His research and teaching at Indiana University brought international recognition to the reputation of our graduate programs in general, and biomechanics in particular. Dr. Cooper served as model for all that is good about the university — he was universally well-liked and served as a mentor to many students and faculty alike."
Further reading
- John Christgau, Origins of the Jump Shot: Eight Men Who Shook the World of Basketball. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1999.
- Bill Pennington, "In Search of the First Jump Shot," New York Times, April 2, 2011, New York edition, pg. SP6.
- http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=25836&search=SPO§ion=search