Keystone College is proud to announce that the interim tag has been removed from the title of Head Men’s Basketball Coach Brad Cooper. Cooper was appointed as the Giants’ Interim Head Coach in late October after Nevada Smith was named the head coach of Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the NBA’s Houston Rockets’ D-League affiliate. After serving as an assistant coach for the previous two seasons under Smith, Cooper has guided the Giants’ program since Smith’s departure and will continue to lead the program in a permanent role.
"We are very excited to have Brad on board for the long haul," stated Dr. Matthew Grimaldi, Keystone’s Director of Athletics. "He has been an integral part of the team’s success over the last three seasons and has represents Keystone well both on the sideline and in the community. Our student-athletes enjoy playing for him and he continues to work hard to ensure the program will continue to enjoy success both this season and in the coming years."
Keystone is currently 5-6 overall this season following a challenging, non-conference schedule. The Giants, who are 2-2 in Colonial States Athletic Conference play, will be looking to snap a four-game skid on Wednesday evening when they host Cairn University at 7:00 p.m. in the Gambal Athletic Center in La Plume.
As an assistant coach with the Giants, Cooper helped lead the Giants to back-to-back appearances in the CSAC 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 current junior forward Duncan Lunsford (Marietta, GA/Sprayberry) earned Third Team All-Middle Atlantic Region honors last season before being 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.
Stay with HoopDirt for the latest college basketball coaching news and rumors.
