Recently named Lincoln Memorial University Men’s Basketball Head Coach Jeremiah Samarrippas has promoted former graduate assistant Cooper Neimand to a full-time assistant coach for the Railsplitters. Over the last two seasons Neimand has been instrumental in LMU’s success, aiding the Railsplitters to 51 victories, three combined South Atlantic Conference championships, two NCAA Division II Championship berths, a Division II Southeast Regional Championship title and a national semifinal appearance.
“I’m very excited to have Cooper continue to serve this great university,” spoke coach Samarrippas. “Cooper has been a valuable piece to our success the previous two seasons, he has a unique combination of unmatched humility and an elite work ethic. He also brings a wealth of corporate knowledge and understanding of what it takes to be successful at LMU. Cooper is great with player relationships and will be a huge focal point in our recruiting efforts moving forward. He’s also outstanding with player development, having worked with and developed multiple professional and NBA players. His willingness to invest everything he has into making our program elite is what sets him apart. We’re very fortunate to keep Cooper in our Railsplitter family and I’m thrilled to watch him continue to grow into one of the nation’s elite coaches in Division II.”
Beginning his tenure at the university during the summer of 2019, Neimand has served as LMU’s player relations coordinator while also assisting in player development, travel, practice plans, scouting and recruiting. Conducting one-on-one workouts and often jumping into the mix as a scout player, Neimand brings a pedigree of developing players into his new role.
“I want to thank coach Samarrippas for believing in me and providing this opportunity to continue the winning tradition of LMU basketball,” Neimand said. “Working with the Railsplitters over the past two years has helped me cultivate strong relationships with the players and the community, something I value and look forward to growing even stronger. Together, we’ll achieve success.”
Over the last two years Neimand has worked out some of the best players in Railsplitter hoops history, including All-American guards Courvoisier McCauley and Devin Whitfield, in addition to forward Jordan Guest and four different All-SAC performers.
A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Neimand arrived in Harrogate following a two-year stint at fellow Division II member Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina, where he served as an assistant coach for the Bearcats. Neimand oversaw academic success and played a pivotal role in recruiting, player development and scouting during his time at Lander.
Before his time in the Palmetto State, Neimand spent four seasons on the coaching staff at Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, North Carolina, under head coach and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) legend Keith Gatlin. While coaching in basketball-rich North Carolina, Neimand worked with 20 collegiate basketball players, including 18 Division I student-athletes and three current NBA players – Theo Pinson of the New York Knicks, Harry Giles of the Portland Trail Blazers and Jaylen Hoard of the Oklahoma City Thunder. During Neimand’s four seasons mentoring the Trojans, Wesleyan Christian Academy played for three North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) state championships, winning the state title in 2014 and compiling a 105-28 (.789) overall record.
A 2014 graduate of High Point University, Neimand received his bachelor’s degree in human relations before attaining a Master of Education (MEd) in educational leadership from LMU in 2020.
Cooper currently resides in Harrogate.
Samarrippas Promotes Cooper Neimand to Assistant Coach at Lincoln Memorial University
