Football
Cooper, Ron
Ron Cooper
- Title:
- Secondary
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A former head coach and a longtime defensive assistant coach, Ron Cooper joined the Texas A&M staff as the defensive secondary coach on Feb. 3, 2017.
The veteran coach brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to Texas A&M, including 10 as a head coach on the collegiate level, and he has served four stints as a defensive coordinator.
He came to Aggieland from Florida International where he served as the Panthers’ interim head coach for the final eight games of the 2016 season. Cooper also served as head coach at Eastern Michigan (1993-94), Louisville (1995-97) and Alabama A&M (1998-2001).
Cooper served at FIU for two seasons with his first as the team’s assistant head coach and defensive backs coach in 2015. He was elevated to the Panthers’ defensive coordinator in 2016 before leading FIU to a 4-4 records as the interim head coach.
Prior to FIU, Cooper served as the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach at South Florida from 2013-14. He helped lead the Bulls to a team record 20-plus takeaways each season and the defense scored four touchdowns.
He coached one season in the NFL as the defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012.
Cooper has deep ties to Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis, having served as the LSU secondary coach under Chavis from 2009-11. He mentored one of the top secondaries in the country that included national award winners Morris Claiborne, Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu.
Cooper also made stops in the SEC at South Carolina (2004-08) and Mississippi State (2003). In 2008, Cooper assisted with a defense that ranked No. 1 in the SEC and No. 2 in the nation in pass defense, allowing just 160 yards per game. With the Gamecocks, Cooper helped lead the team to appearances in the 2005 Independence Bowl, 2006 Liberty Bowl and 2009 Outback Bowl.
He broke into the head coaching ranks with Eastern Michigan and went on to become head coach at Louisville and Alabama A&M. Cooper’s 1995 Louisville team led the nation in takeaways and finished No. 9 nationally in scoring defense. The following season, the Cardinals ranked No. 4 in both total defense and rushing defense. At Alabama A&M, Cooper guided the Bulldogs to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game in 2000. His squad led the nation in rushing defense and they ranked No. 8 nationally in scoring defense. He also discovered defensive end Robert Mathis and coached him in his first three collegiate seasons.
Before becoming the head coach at Eastern Michigan, Cooper served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame (1991-92), helping the Irish to victories in the 1992 Sugar Bowl and 1993 Cotton Bowl.
Cooper also served coaching stints at UNLV (1990), East Carolina (1989), Murray State (1987-88), Austin Peay (1985-86), Minnesota (1984) and Appalachian State (1983).
As a player, Cooper was a four-year letterman at Jacksonville State, where he helped the Gamecocks to Gulf South Conference titles in 1981 and 1982. Cooper played in the NCAA Div. II playoff three times during his career, including a semifinal run in 1982.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education/biology in 1983 and his master’s in athletic administration from Appalachian State in 1986.
Cooper has a daughter, Tyler, and two sons, Tristan and Deuce (Ronald Jr.).
(08-2017)
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The veteran coach brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to Texas A&M, including 10 as a head coach on the collegiate level, and he has served four stints as a defensive coordinator.
He came to Aggieland from Florida International where he served as the Panthers’ interim head coach for the final eight games of the 2016 season. Cooper also served as head coach at Eastern Michigan (1993-94), Louisville (1995-97) and Alabama A&M (1998-2001).
Cooper served at FIU for two seasons with his first as the team’s assistant head coach and defensive backs coach in 2015. He was elevated to the Panthers’ defensive coordinator in 2016 before leading FIU to a 4-4 records as the interim head coach.
Prior to FIU, Cooper served as the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach at South Florida from 2013-14. He helped lead the Bulls to a team record 20-plus takeaways each season and the defense scored four touchdowns.
He coached one season in the NFL as the defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012.
Cooper has deep ties to Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis, having served as the LSU secondary coach under Chavis from 2009-11. He mentored one of the top secondaries in the country that included national award winners Morris Claiborne, Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu.
Cooper also made stops in the SEC at South Carolina (2004-08) and Mississippi State (2003). In 2008, Cooper assisted with a defense that ranked No. 1 in the SEC and No. 2 in the nation in pass defense, allowing just 160 yards per game. With the Gamecocks, Cooper helped lead the team to appearances in the 2005 Independence Bowl, 2006 Liberty Bowl and 2009 Outback Bowl.
He broke into the head coaching ranks with Eastern Michigan and went on to become head coach at Louisville and Alabama A&M. Cooper’s 1995 Louisville team led the nation in takeaways and finished No. 9 nationally in scoring defense. The following season, the Cardinals ranked No. 4 in both total defense and rushing defense. At Alabama A&M, Cooper guided the Bulldogs to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game in 2000. His squad led the nation in rushing defense and they ranked No. 8 nationally in scoring defense. He also discovered defensive end Robert Mathis and coached him in his first three collegiate seasons.
Before becoming the head coach at Eastern Michigan, Cooper served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame (1991-92), helping the Irish to victories in the 1992 Sugar Bowl and 1993 Cotton Bowl.
Cooper also served coaching stints at UNLV (1990), East Carolina (1989), Murray State (1987-88), Austin Peay (1985-86), Minnesota (1984) and Appalachian State (1983).
As a player, Cooper was a four-year letterman at Jacksonville State, where he helped the Gamecocks to Gulf South Conference titles in 1981 and 1982. Cooper played in the NCAA Div. II playoff three times during his career, including a semifinal run in 1982.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education/biology in 1983 and his master’s in athletic administration from Appalachian State in 1986.
Cooper has a daughter, Tyler, and two sons, Tristan and Deuce (Ronald Jr.).
(08-2017)
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