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As one of the top offensive threats in Augusta State Baseballhistory, head coach Chris Cooper certainly knows what it takes tosucceed at the collegiate level.
Now in his fourth season at the helm of the Jaguar Baseballprogram, Cooper continues to put his own stamp on the DiamondJaguars.
Named to the post by ASU Director of Athletics Clint Bryant onFriday, June 26, 2009, Cooper has recharged the Jaguar program withan infectious enthusiasm and work ethic.
After a 16-31 mark in his inaugural season in 2010, Coopercontinued the building process last year. The Jags registered anine-win improvement in 2011 and caught fire down the stretch,winning five of their last seven games while advancing all the wayto the championship game of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament inColumbus, Ga.
In his 13th year of affiliation with ASU Baseball, Cooper spentseven years as an assistant coach from 2003-2009. He also served asthe Department of Athletics’ Strength & ConditioningCoordinator during the 2008-09 school year.
Cooper first joined the Jaguar coaching staff as a studentassistant coach beginning in the fall of 2002. He assumed the roleof graduate assistant coach in 2005 and climbed to the assistantcoach post in the fall of 2007.
“I’m very delighted to promote Chris to headbaseball coach,” Bryant said. “He is one of our own. Heplayed here and has been a loyal and dedicated employee for severalyears. I’m impressed with his knowledge of the game andattention to detail in all that he does. Chris is a tremendousyoung man and we look forward to his leadership of our baseballprogram.”
One of the top power hitters in Augusta State history, Cooperwas a two-year letterwinner and first baseman for the Jags from2000-02. During his senior season for the Jaguars in 2002, Cooperbatted .326.
He led the team in slugging percentage (.674), RBI (59), doubles(14), triples (2), home runs (16), put outs (360) and double plays(21). He was a first team All-Peach Belt Conference selection aswell as a first-team, all-South Atlantic Region pick.
A native of Lakeland, Fla., Cooper prepped at East Bay HighSchool in Gibsonton, Fla. Prior to arriving in Augusta, Cooper wasa two-year letterwinner at Santa Fe (Fla.) Community College.
Cooper earned his bachelor’s degree in Health &Kinesiology from ASU in 2005, and received his master’sdegree in Arts & Teaching from ASU in 2007.
An avid golfer, Cooper is married to the former Erica Eppenbrockof Appling, Ga.
