Thomas More College Director of Athletics Terry Connor announced today (Monday, June 3, 2013) that Drew Cooper has been named the ninth head men’s basketball coach at Thomas More.
Cooper comes to Thomas More from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky where he has been the assistant men’s basketball coach for the past six seasons. While at Bellarmine he helped lead the Knights to a record of 152-41, a Final Four appearance in 2012, and Bellarmine’s first National Championship in history in 2011.
"We are extremely excited to have Drew Cooper take over our men’s basketball program," commented Connor. "He has a tireless work ethic, comes from a successful program at Bellarmine and is an excellent teacher of the game of basketball. We are very confident that he will maintain our position among the conference and region’s best academically and athletically."
Prior to Bellarmine, Cooper was the head coach at NCAA Division III Wheelock (Mass.) College. He was the first-named Head Men’s Basketball Coach in the history of Wheelock. He spent one full year recruiting, scheduling, and performing all duties necessary to start up Wheelock’s program for its inaugural season. Before arriving at Wheelock, Cooper spent two seasons as the lead assistant at NCAA Division III Babson (Mass.) College. During Cooper’s time there, Babson became the 2004 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Tournament Champions and advanced in the NCAA Tournament.
Prior to Babson, Cooper spent one season as a graduate assistant coach at Northern Kentucky University and one season as a volunteer assistant coach at Bellarmine.
Cooper was a standout player at NCAA Division II Assumption College (Worcester, Mass.). While at Assumption, he scored 2,001 points and was a two-time NABC Honorable Mention All-American. A three time first team All-Northeast-10 conference selection, Cooper was inducted into the Assumption Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 23, 2010. Cooper went on to play professionally in the International Basketball Association in Ireland and Switzerland.
"On behalf of me and my family, many thanks goes out to President Sister Margaret Stallmeyer, Director of Athletics Terry Connor and the search committee for entrusting me with this program," said Cooper. "Above everything else, I’ll aspire to give these young men a first class collegiate athletic experience. As a basketball coach, you want to take on positions that will allow success. Between the location, the education, the facilities, and the great selling points that Thomas More offers, along with the already established program that my predecessors have put in place, I can’t wait to get going with the challenge of leading this program to new heights. We’ll pursue consistent national recognition."
A Louisville native and graduate of St. Xavier High School, Cooper earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications from Assumption College in 1999. In 2010, he received his master of business administration degree from Bellarmine University. Cooper currently resides in Louisville with his wife Tamara, daughter Delaney, stepson Chandler and twin boys, Grant and Owen.
Stay with HoopDirt for the latest college basketball coaching news and rumors.
