Staff Directory
John Cooper
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- (785) 532-6531
Veteran coach John Cooper is in his first season as an assistant coach at Kansas State in 2026-27 after being hired by head coach Casey Alexander on April 10.
“This is really an exciting time for me and understanding the great tradition that Wildcat basketball has had throughout the years,” said Cooper. “Being a Big Eight fan growing up, this really is a full circle moment in many ways for me, being from right down the road in Kansas City. I have been fortunate enough to work with and be around several past K-State players like Tim Jankovich and Lon Kruger, so I know what those guys mean to the Wildcat family. I’m really, really excited to be part of this, and hopefully many, many more good years to come. I know we are working hard to put a product on the floor that everyone will be proud of and really, really excited to watch.”
Cooper joins the staff after three seasons (2022-25) as an assistant coach to Kevin Kruger (son of Lon Kruger) at UNLV, where he helped the Runnin’ Rebels to 58 wins, including 30 in Mountain West Conference play, and the school’s first postseason appearance in 11 years.
Cooper helped the Rebels to their highest win total (21) in 11 years in 2023-24, as the squad won 21 games, finished fourth in the MWC and advanced to the NIT quarterfinals with wins over Princeton and Boston College. The Rebels’ 84-77 win over Princeton was the first postseason win in 16 years, while the victory over BC gave them two postseason victories for the first time in 17 years.
In his first season at UNLV, Cooper helped the Rebels to a 10-0 start, their best start in 34 years, en route to 19-win campaign in 2021-22.
Cooper helped coach five players who earned All-MWC honors in his time in Vegas, including Second Team selection and 2014 Mountain West co-Freshman of the Year Dedan Thomas Jr. Thomas led the team in scoring (13.6 ppg.) and assists (5.1 apg.) while setting a conference freshman record with 174 assists and leading the nation in assists among freshmen.
Cooper coached with K-State alum Tim Jankovich in his final two seasons (2020-22) at SMU, where the pair led the Mustangs to 35 wins, including 20 in AAC play, and back-to-back NIT appearances. The team won 24 games in 2021-22, while placing second in league play with a 13-4 mark, and advanced to the second round of the NIT. He helped coach three Mustangs who earned All-AAC honors, including AAC Player of the Year Kendric Davis.
Cooper was on staff at Big 12 rival Oklahoma State from 2017-20, working as the Special Assistant to Head Coach Mike Boynton Jr. The Cowboys won 51 games in his three seasons on staff, including 21 in year one when they led the nation with six victories over ranked teams.
Cooper was a Division I head coach for eight seasons at Tennessee State (2009-12) and Miami-Ohio (2012-17), compiling a 102-152 overall record.
Cooper revitalized the Tennessee State program in his three-year stint (2009-12), leading the Tigers from nine wins in year one to their first 20-win season in 32 years in year three. He won 43 games in total at TSU, including 27 in Ohio Valley Conference play, and advanced to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament in 2012. He coached three All-OVC selections, including First Team pick Robert Covington in 2011-12, as well as 2011 OVC Freshman of the Year Patrick Miller.
Cooper’s 2011-12 team earned national recognition with a win over No. 7 Murray State before narrowly missing a berth in NCAA Tournament with a 54-52 loss to the Racers in the OVC Championship. The Tigers lost to Mercer in the CIT First Round.
Cooper became head coach at Miami in April 2012 following the retirement of Charlie Coles, winning 59 games in five seasons (2012-17). His defense-first philosophy saw the RedHawks rank among the nation’s top 50 in steals in four of his five seasons. He coached five All-MAC selections, including 2017 MAC Freshman of the Year Michael Weathers.
Cooper spent time as an assistant coach at Oregon (2002-04) and Auburn (2004-09) before earning his first head coaching position at Tennessee State in 2009. He was part of 41 wins in two seasons at Oregon with head coach Ernie Kent, including an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003, while he was part of 81 wins under head coach Jeff Lebo at Auburn, including 24 in 2008-09.
Cooper began his coaching career at Division II Fayetteville State in Fayetteville, N.C. in 1993 before joining his college coach Eddie Fogler at South Carolina in 1995. He was on staff with the Gamecocks for six seasons (1995-2001) where he was part of 104 wins, including 48 in SEC play, with four postseason appearances, including trips to the NCAA Tournament in 1997 and 1998.
In Cooper’s second season on staff at South Carolina, the Gamecocks won the SEC regular-season title with a 15-1 mark en route to winning 24 games and earning a bid to the 1997 NCAA Tournament. The team followed with a 23-win campaign and another trip to the Big Dance.
Cooper played collegiately at Wichita State from 1987-91, where he was a two-time team captain for Fogler and Mike Cohen. He scored more than 1,100 points in his Shocker career, as led the team in both scoring and rebounding in his junior and senior seasons. He was a Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection and a member of the All-Defensive Team in 1990 after averaging 17.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Cooper, 57, earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Wichita State in 1991 before playing professionally in the CBA with the Fort Wayne Fury (1991-92) and Commodore Mustangs (1992-93) and overseas in the Netherlands.
Cooper and his wife, Melissa, are the parents of a daughter, Kennedy, and a son, Kameron.
“This is really an exciting time for me and understanding the great tradition that Wildcat basketball has had throughout the years,” said Cooper. “Being a Big Eight fan growing up, this really is a full circle moment in many ways for me, being from right down the road in Kansas City. I have been fortunate enough to work with and be around several past K-State players like Tim Jankovich and Lon Kruger, so I know what those guys mean to the Wildcat family. I’m really, really excited to be part of this, and hopefully many, many more good years to come. I know we are working hard to put a product on the floor that everyone will be proud of and really, really excited to watch.”
Cooper joins the staff after three seasons (2022-25) as an assistant coach to Kevin Kruger (son of Lon Kruger) at UNLV, where he helped the Runnin’ Rebels to 58 wins, including 30 in Mountain West Conference play, and the school’s first postseason appearance in 11 years.
Cooper helped the Rebels to their highest win total (21) in 11 years in 2023-24, as the squad won 21 games, finished fourth in the MWC and advanced to the NIT quarterfinals with wins over Princeton and Boston College. The Rebels’ 84-77 win over Princeton was the first postseason win in 16 years, while the victory over BC gave them two postseason victories for the first time in 17 years.
In his first season at UNLV, Cooper helped the Rebels to a 10-0 start, their best start in 34 years, en route to 19-win campaign in 2021-22.
Cooper helped coach five players who earned All-MWC honors in his time in Vegas, including Second Team selection and 2014 Mountain West co-Freshman of the Year Dedan Thomas Jr. Thomas led the team in scoring (13.6 ppg.) and assists (5.1 apg.) while setting a conference freshman record with 174 assists and leading the nation in assists among freshmen.
Cooper coached with K-State alum Tim Jankovich in his final two seasons (2020-22) at SMU, where the pair led the Mustangs to 35 wins, including 20 in AAC play, and back-to-back NIT appearances. The team won 24 games in 2021-22, while placing second in league play with a 13-4 mark, and advanced to the second round of the NIT. He helped coach three Mustangs who earned All-AAC honors, including AAC Player of the Year Kendric Davis.
Cooper was on staff at Big 12 rival Oklahoma State from 2017-20, working as the Special Assistant to Head Coach Mike Boynton Jr. The Cowboys won 51 games in his three seasons on staff, including 21 in year one when they led the nation with six victories over ranked teams.
Cooper was a Division I head coach for eight seasons at Tennessee State (2009-12) and Miami-Ohio (2012-17), compiling a 102-152 overall record.
Cooper revitalized the Tennessee State program in his three-year stint (2009-12), leading the Tigers from nine wins in year one to their first 20-win season in 32 years in year three. He won 43 games in total at TSU, including 27 in Ohio Valley Conference play, and advanced to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament in 2012. He coached three All-OVC selections, including First Team pick Robert Covington in 2011-12, as well as 2011 OVC Freshman of the Year Patrick Miller.
Cooper’s 2011-12 team earned national recognition with a win over No. 7 Murray State before narrowly missing a berth in NCAA Tournament with a 54-52 loss to the Racers in the OVC Championship. The Tigers lost to Mercer in the CIT First Round.
Cooper became head coach at Miami in April 2012 following the retirement of Charlie Coles, winning 59 games in five seasons (2012-17). His defense-first philosophy saw the RedHawks rank among the nation’s top 50 in steals in four of his five seasons. He coached five All-MAC selections, including 2017 MAC Freshman of the Year Michael Weathers.
Cooper spent time as an assistant coach at Oregon (2002-04) and Auburn (2004-09) before earning his first head coaching position at Tennessee State in 2009. He was part of 41 wins in two seasons at Oregon with head coach Ernie Kent, including an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003, while he was part of 81 wins under head coach Jeff Lebo at Auburn, including 24 in 2008-09.
Cooper began his coaching career at Division II Fayetteville State in Fayetteville, N.C. in 1993 before joining his college coach Eddie Fogler at South Carolina in 1995. He was on staff with the Gamecocks for six seasons (1995-2001) where he was part of 104 wins, including 48 in SEC play, with four postseason appearances, including trips to the NCAA Tournament in 1997 and 1998.
In Cooper’s second season on staff at South Carolina, the Gamecocks won the SEC regular-season title with a 15-1 mark en route to winning 24 games and earning a bid to the 1997 NCAA Tournament. The team followed with a 23-win campaign and another trip to the Big Dance.
Cooper played collegiately at Wichita State from 1987-91, where he was a two-time team captain for Fogler and Mike Cohen. He scored more than 1,100 points in his Shocker career, as led the team in both scoring and rebounding in his junior and senior seasons. He was a Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection and a member of the All-Defensive Team in 1990 after averaging 17.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Cooper, 57, earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Wichita State in 1991 before playing professionally in the CBA with the Fort Wayne Fury (1991-92) and Commodore Mustangs (1992-93) and overseas in the Netherlands.
Cooper and his wife, Melissa, are the parents of a daughter, Kennedy, and a son, Kameron.
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