– Brad Cooper has been named Keystone College’s Interim Head Men’s Basketball Coach according to an announcement made by Director of Athletics, Dr. Matthew Grimaldi on Wednesday. Cooper spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Keystone under Nevada Smith who resigned earlier this week to take a the head coaching position with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the D-League affiliate of the NBA’s Houston Rockets.
Over the past two seasons, Cooper has helped led the Giants to back-to-back appearances in the Colonial States Athletic Conference Championship Game while the team has posted a 39-16 overall record during that span. Since joining Keystone’s coaching staff in 2011, During Cooper’s first two years with the program, four Giants have earned All-CSAC honors while Duncan Lunsford (Marietta, GA/Sprayberry), who will return for his junior season this year, earned Third Team All-Middle Atlantic Region honors last season and has been named to the 2013-14 DIII News Preseason All-American Honorable Mention.
Cooper also served as the Director of Basketball Operations and Training at Backcourt Hoops in Scranton, PA from 2012 to June of 2013 where he developed players of all levels through vigorous training and detailed teaching while leading 15 and 16 year old AAU teams to wins over nationally ranked programs. Additionally, Cooper was responsible for the daily operation of the facility including scheduling, staffing, and safety.
During the 2011-12 season, Cooper was an assistant coach with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Steamers where his main responsibility was game day preparation and game planning.
Prior to joining Keystone’s staff, Cooper spent a season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Fredonia State University, where he served under 2009-10 SUNYAC Coach of the Year Kevin Moore. Cooper assisted in all aspects of the program including recruiting, academic monitoring, practice and game planning, and breaking down film and founded the "Race for Change" fundraiser.
A four-year standout player for the Blue Devils, Cooper was a two-time All-Conference selection and finished his career as Fredonia’s 10th all-time leading scorer while serving as a team captain for two seasons. Cooper enjoyed a stellar high school career prior to enrolling at Fredonia State as he finished his scholastic career as Monticello High School’s fifth all-time leading scorer and in 2006 was named both the Sullivan County Democrat Player of the Year and the High School Athlete of the Year.
Cooper graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Fredonia State in May 2011.
Cooper will be assisted by Sean Rossi, who graduated from Ithaca College in 2013 as the NCAA’s all-time leader in assists.
Keystone opens the 2013-14 season on Friday, November 15th when they host Wells College in a non-conference game in the Gambal Athletic Center.
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