The Notre Dame de Namur men’s basketball program will welcome back a familiar face with Ryan Cooper being named as the Head Coach. Cooper, an alumni of NDNU spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at San Jose State.
“I am really excited to bring Ryan back into the fold as the new men’s basketball coach.” Athletic Director Josh Doody said. “He was a fantastic player and his work ethic was second to none. I am very confident with the experience he gained at San Jose State that he can move the men’s basketball team in the right direction.”
“As a proud alumni, it is an honor and a privilege to be leading our men’s basketball program into the future.” Cooper said. “I want to thank Athletic Director Josh Doody and all the members of the search committee for giving me this opportunity. NDNU is a special place and I am thrilled to be back on campus.”
Cooper joined the SJSU staff in 2016 as the Recruiting Coordinator and Director of Basketball Operations before being promoted to an Assistant Coach by Jean Prioleau in 2018.
“Recruiting and skill development will be the cornerstones of our program.” Cooper added. “We will bring a fast paced up-tempo style of play to both our offensive and defensive attack. I cannot wait to get on the floor with the team and get to work.”
Prior to San Jose State, Cooper had a very successful career at the high school level, including two seasons as the varsity head boys’ basketball coach at San Jose’s Valley Christian High School. As the youngest coach in the West Catholic Athletic League, Cooper led the Warriors to success in 2015-16, including a Central Coast Section playoff win.
Prior to coaching at Valley Christian High, Cooper was the varsity head coach at Oak Grove High School (2013-14) and Del Mar High School (2008-12).
Cooper graduated from NDNU in 2008 with one of the most storied careers in school history. He finished as the fourth all-time leading scorer and a member of the 1,000-Point-Club. Cooper also earned All-Pacific West Conference honors twice and is second in school history in career assists.
Prior to NDNU, Cooper was a two-time All-Mercury News player for Piedmont Hills (Calif.) High School. He was the MVP of the Blossom Valley Athletic League (BVAL) for the 2002-03 season, and set a single-season league record with 124 threes in 2003-04.
Cooper went on to earn a Master’s in education in 2015 from National University in San Diego, Calif.
https://ndnuargos.com/news/2019/4/17/cooper-returns-to-helm-mens-basketball-program.aspx
