2023 December Warrior web

me through my time at Miami and was a life-long friend who always taught us more than basketball. I also believe that players are what make a good coach, and I would not have been elect ed to the Hall of Fame without talented players, who are too many to name.” He has also found great friends among the coaching ranks including EC alumnus Chris Croft who served as a student assistant coach for Cooper at East Central in the early 90s. Chris would go on to coach at the college level and now works in the athletics department at the University of South ern Mississippi. Croft said about Cooper, “From day one, Coach Cooper created a cham pionship culture from the basketball court, in the classroom, and to us per sonally on campus. He pushed all of us to work hard together, believe in each other, and face challenges head-on.” Cooper said he is thankful for the many friendships made at ECCC and is especially grateful for Dr. Eddie Smith and the ECCC board who gave him the opportunity to coach at ECCC. But there was one couple who stood out among the rest. “When you talk about friends,” Cooper said, “we had so many at ECCC, too many to name. However, we were blessed to become special friends with Ovid and Carol Vickers. The Vickers were our friends and really our second set of parents. They helped a young married couple coaching their first team so much. We miss them dearly.

When I hear someone say East Central, the first thing I think about is Ovid and Carol. It is extra special to go into the Hall of Fame at the same time their daughter, Harriet Vickers Laird, is be ing honored.” But Cooper said he would be remiss if he didn’t acknowledge the invaluable support of his family, particularly his wife, Jennifer. “Jennifer Cooper is not only my wife and best friend, but the best assistant coach for 32 years. She has stuck with me through thick and thin. Jen is my rock.” Additional family members include children Emily Herrmann, Ryan Coo per, and McKenzie Cooper; his parents, Kay Cooper and the late Ed Cooper, and sisters Kathy Leary and Carla Wayland. His advice for aspiring coaches emphasizes the importance of balance, faith, and hard work. “Do not let basketball consume you!” he said. “Jen and I had a blast and still enjoy coaching together, but life goes by fast. Enjoy family time. Put God first in your life and He will take care of the rest. Jen and I always went to church but the last 12 years we have finally put God first in our lives and it has been a blessing. Now, you must put in the long hours, have a good work ethic, and you must be patient, but if you put God first, He will guide your path.”

COOPER

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and athletic director at East Central said of Cooper, “Although Coach Cooper’s success is without debate, it cannot be fully represented by on the-court success. He also had a 100 percent graduation rate within his program and 12 players signed Divi sion I scholarships to continue their collegiate careers. He was an outstand ing coach and mentor who developed young men beyond basketball. His pro gram was run with class and integrity.” After East Central, Cooper’s journey would continue at Itawamba Commu nity College where he added another MACJC state championship to his list of achievements. His ICC teams won the Region 23 championship three times and advanced to the NJCAA Tournament Final 16 three times. It is the only three times ICC has reached the National Tournament. Following his retirement from Itawamba, Cooper took over as the head coach of a small 1A team in Bel green, AL, where his overall record is currently 90-31 and his team finished as state runner-up in 2021, only the second time in school history they have played in the title game and the first since 1994. Cooper said he has had many great influences in his life including his high school coach. “Coach (Al) Burger, my high school coach, taught me so much and guided

• EC FOUNDATION RECEIVES GRANT The East Central Community College Foundation received a grant through the Community Foundation of East Mississippi from the Meridian Jaycee Leadership and Community Development Endowment. The grant of $1,275 was presented by Christin Waters (center), executive director of the Community Foundation of East Mississippi, to Dr. Stacey Hollingsworth (left), executive director of the ECCC Foundation, and Dr. Marie Roberts, Vice President for Enrollment Management. Funds will be used for the Leadership EC initiative which aims to develop an understanding of personal leadership style and community responsibility using a cohort approach made up of high school students across the College’s five county district. Leadership EC programming will develop and grow leadership characteristics in our youth through interaction with our community leaders, college officials, and local workforce and industry partners. (EC Photo)

ALUMNI NEWS

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