Assistant Coach Ron Cooper<BR><font size=4>Defensive Coordinator/Safeties</font>
 | PERSONAL |
| Born: February 11, 1962 Birthplace: Huntsville, AL Married: former Djuna Locklayer Children: daughter, Tyler; son, Tristan College: Jacksonville State, 1983 |
| PLAYING CAREER | * Played at Jacksonville State * Helped lead his team to the NCAA Division II playoffs three times |
| COACHING CAREER | * 1983: Graduate Assistant, Appalachian State University * 1984: Graduate Assistant, University of Minnesota * 1985-86: Linebackers/Special Teams, Austin Peay State University * 1987-88: Defensive Coordinator, Murray State University * 1989: Linebackers Coach, East Carolina University * 1990: Defensive Coordinator, Nevada-Las Vegas * 1991-92: Assistant Head Coach, University of Notre Dame * 1993-94: Head Coach, Eastern Michigan University * 1995-97: Head Coach, University of Louisville * 1998-01: Head Coach, Alabama A&M University * 2002: Defensive Backs, University of Wisconsin * 2003-present: Defensive Coordinator/Safeties, Mississippi State University |
| NOTABLE | Holds nine years of head coaching experience with his stints at Eastern Michigan, Louisville and Alabama A&M...As assistant head coach at Notre Dame, helped lead the Fighting Irish to the 1992 Sugar and 1993 Cotton Bowl titles. |
Ron Cooper was hired as Mississippi State's new defensive coordinator in spring 2002, following one season as the defensive backfield coach at Wisconsin of the Big 10 Conference. During that brief period in Madison, Cooper had a profound impact on the Badger defensive backs. Under his direction, Wisconsin had the Big 10's two individual leaders in pass interceptions. One of those, walk-on strong safety Jim Leonhard, led the nation with 10 pass thefts.
Cooper joined the Wisconsin staff following nine years as a collegiate head coach. He served as the head of the football fortunes at Alabama A&M (1998-2001), Louisville (1995-97) and Eastern Michigan (1993-94) during those years. He was 44-56 in his head coaching tenure.
While at A&M, he helped the school make the transition from Division II to I-AA in 1998, and in 2000, he had his Bulldog team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game as champions of the Eastern Division. That team led the nation in rushing defense and finished eighth in total defense.
During his stint at Louisville, he directed the Cardinals to a 7-4 mark in his first season at the Conference USA school. That team led the nation in turnovers forced, and finished ninth nationally in scoring defense, 18th in total defense and 20th in rushing defense. His '96 UL squad ranked fourth nationally in both total and rushing defense. During his tenure at Louisville, the school had three all-America players.
In Cooper's first head coaching assignment, Eastern Michigan produced a 9-13 two-year mark after winning only five games in the previous three seasons combined.
Before becoming a collegiate head coach, Cooper served as a defensive coordinator at Murray State (1987-88) and UNLV (1990), and worked two seasons (1991-92) as assistant head coach at Notre Dame. He has also been the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Austin Peay (1985-86), and the linebackers coach at East Carolina (1989).
While on the staff of Lou Holtz at Notre Dame, Cooper helped the Fighting Irish to the 1992 Sugar Bowl and 1993 Cotton Bowl championships. During that time span, Cooper tutored defensive backs Tom Carter, Jeff Burris, Bobby Taylor, Rod Smith and Willie Clark, all of whom played in the National Football League.
His coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Appalachian State in 1983 and at Minnesota in 1984.
Cooper played collegiately at Jacksonville State where he led his club to the NCAA Division II playoffs three times. He earned his bachelor's degree in biology and physical education in 1983. He later completed work on his master's degree in athletic administration from Appalachian State in 1985.