In his first season in Orlando, Cooper helped lead the Knights to their second undefeated regular season in a row and the 2018 American Athletic Conference Championship. UCF earned a berth to the 2019 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl and rose as high as seventh in both the AP Top 25 Poll and the Amway Coaches Poll.
With Cooper in the fold, the Knights offense posted 43.2 points per game, ranking sixth in the nation. They churned out 522.7 yards per game to finish the season ranked fifth in the country. UCF averaged 265.2 yards rushing per game, eighth in the country and a program record.
Led by sixth-year senior Michael Colubiale, Cooper’s tight ends posted 23 catches for 291 yards and four touchdowns. Colubiale earned American Athletic Conference Honorable Mention All-Conference accolades for his work in 2018.
Prior to UCF, Cooper spent two seasons as an offensive analyst at Missouri under then-offensive coordinator Josh Heupel. He helped the Tigers offense explode and lead the SEC in yards per game, passing yards and points per game. In his final season in Columbia, Mo., Cooper helped the offensive line finish the year ranked No. 7 in total offense, No. 7 in sacks allowed, No. 10 in scoring offense, No. 14 in passing offense, No. 21 in first downs, No. 23 in red zone offense and No. 35 in rushing offense.
Prior to working at Missouri, Cooper served as a graduate assistant at Utah State. In his lone season with the Aggies, the offense climbed 21 spots to 60th in the nation in scoring offense, even with losing its starting quarterback to injury.
Cooper went to Utah State after two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Oklahoma, where he helped the Sooners to a 19-7 record, including 45-31 victory over Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl.
Prior to joining the staff at Oklahoma, his alma mater, Cooper spent four seasons in the NFL. He played 13 games during his first three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, and made his first career start against the Dallas Cowboys at center.
Cooper originally joined the Vikings in 2009 as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma. The native of Fort Collins, Colo., signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2012 and retired after spending one season with the club.
A three-year starter at center for Oklahoma, Cooper was tabbed the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior in 2008 while blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford. During his playing days with the Sooners, Cooper helped lead OU to a 42-12 overall record and spot in the BCS National Championship game as a senior, while garnering two All-Big 12 selections.
Cooper graduated from Oklahoma in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in human relations.