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The Bill Cooper File |
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Hometown: |
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Education: Heidelberg (B.S.) '96 |
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Family: |
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Coaching Background |
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2019-Pres. |
Sewanee, Head Coach (XC/TF) |
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2014-19 |
Randolph, Head Coach (TF) |
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2012-18 |
Randolph, Head Coach (XC) |
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2008-12 |
Trine, Head Coach (WTR), Assistant Coach (WXC) |
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2003-08 |
Muskingum, Head Coach (TF) |
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2001-03 |
Colby, Assistant Coach (TF) |
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2000-01 |
Hartwick, Assistant Coach (XC/TF) |
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By The Numbers |
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4 - All-America selection |
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2 - All-Region selections at Sewanee |
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3 - Cross Country All-Conference selections at Sewanee |
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1 - Track & Field All-Conference selection at Sewanee |
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61 - Cross Country Academic Honor Roll selections at Sewanee |
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79 - Track & Field Academic Honor Roll selections at Sewanee |
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Championships/Honors |
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- 2016 ODAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year (Randolph) |
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- 1996 NCAA All-American (400 meters) | (Heidelberg, Player) |
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Bill Cooper enters his fourth year leading the University of the South cross country and track and field programs.
As Cross Country Head Coach
Throughout his tenure as cross country coach, Cooper has coached two cross country All-Region selections and three All-SAA honorees.
In the classroom, the programs have achieved All-Academic Team honors with the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in each of his first three seasons, while two were named All-Academic Individualists. In addition, 61 student-athletes have been named to the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Academic Honor Roll.
Getting back on the course in 2021, the Tigers posted a fourth place finish on the women's side and sixth for the men. One female runner earned All-SAA Honors.
At the regional championships, the women posted a 12th place finish, which is the best since Sewanee's 11th place result in 2015.
In the classroom, 24 athletes were named to the SAA Academic Honor Roll. The 15 women student-athletes named to the honor roll is the most in program history. Additionally, both squads were named to the US USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.
Sewanee was unable to participate in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Tigers were able to practice throughout the year on Sewanee's 13,000 acres. 22 student-athletes were named to the SAA Academic Honor Roll, while both teams were listed on the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.
In his first season with the Tigers in 2019, Cooper saw his cross country teams finish fourth on the women's side and fifth on the men's side at the SAA Championships. One female runner for Sewanee ran to SAA Newcomer of the Year status and two male runners earned All-SAA honors.
Additionally, two Tigers earned All-Region with the USTFCCCA.
In the classroom, 16 student-athletes, nine women and seven men, made the SAA Academic Honor Roll. Two student-athletes, Jack Barganier and Ash Midyett, were listed as All-Academic Individualists as both men's and women's teams were each honored with the All-Academic Award.
Barganier was also chosen to the Academic All-District Team® by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Bill Cooper's All-Time Collegiate Head-Coaching Record (CROSS COUNTRY)
| Muskingum (Ohio), NCAA Division III (2004-07) |
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MEN |
WOMEN |
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| Year |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
Region
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA Region
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Season Notes |
| 2004 |
8th of 10 |
24th of 30 |
n/a |
7th of 10 |
23rd of 26 |
n/a |
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| 2005 |
T-9th of 9 |
32nd of 34 |
n/a |
8th of 10 |
22nd of 31 |
n/a |
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| 2006 |
9th of 9 |
26th of 31 |
n/a |
10th of 10 |
Individuals |
n/a |
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| 2007 |
9th of 10 |
Individuals |
n/a |
10th of 10 |
27th of 31 |
n/a |
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| Randolph (Va.), NCAA Division III (2012-18) |
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MEN |
WOMEN |
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| Year |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
Region
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA Region
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Season Notes |
| 2012 |
11th of 11 |
Individuals |
n/a |
9th of 9 |
n/a |
n/a |
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| 2013 |
11th of 11 |
n/a |
n/a |
10th of 10 |
n/a |
n/a |
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| 2014 |
11th of 11 |
n/a |
n/a |
9th of 10 |
n/a |
n/a |
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| 2015 |
11th of 11 |
n/a |
n/a |
10th of 10 |
n/a |
n/a |
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| 2016 |
Individuals |
Individuals |
n/a |
Individuals |
Individuals |
n/a |
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| 2017 |
11th of 11 |
n/a |
n/a |
12th of 12 |
n/a |
n/a |
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| 2018 |
9th of 11 |
n/a |
n/a |
11th of 12 |
n/a |
n/a |
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| Sewanee, NCAA Division III (2019-Present) |
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MEN |
WOMEN |
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| Year |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
Region
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
Region
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Season Notes |
| 2019 |
4th of 8 |
14th of 33 |
n/a |
5th of 8 |
16th of 36 |
n/a |
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| 2020 |
Did Not Participate due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 |
6th of 8 |
20th of 23 |
n/a |
4th of 7 |
12th of 24 |
n/a |
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As Track and Field Head Coach
Over Cooper's last three seasons at the helm, the women's team has achieved All-Academic Team honors with the USTFCCCA in each of his first three seasons, while the men have won the award in two of the three years. In addition, 79 have been named to the SAA Academic Honor Roll.
Back on the track in 2022, Sewanee saw one athlete earn All-Conference honors in the 3,000 steeplechase. Additionally, Lexi Vanwinkle cleared 3.07 meters in the pole vault to set the school record in the event.
In the classroom, 23 student-athletes were honored with SAA Academic Honor Roll Laurels, and the women's team garnered the team academic award by the USTFCCCA.
Sewanee was limited in the 2021 season due to COVID-19, but the Tigers were able to compete with two meets at home. Additionally, 33 student-athletes were listed on the SAA Honor Roll, while both programs earned All-Academic Team laurels with the coaches association.
Despite the 2020 season ending on a sour note due to COVID-19, Cooper led Ash Midyett to two indoor school records in the mile and 3,000 meters. In addition, Vanwinkle matched the school record in the indoor pole vault with a clearance of 2.90 meters.
Academically, 23 student-athletes, 12 male and 11 female, were named to the SAA Academic Honor Roll.
Bill Cooper's All-Time Collegiate Head-Coaching Record (WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD)
| Muskingum (Ohio), NCAA Division III (2004-08) |
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INDOOR |
OUTDOOR |
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| Year |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Season Notes |
| 2004 |
8th of 10 |
T-59th of 64 |
8th of 10 |
Individuals |
Eastham named Indoor All-America in Shot Put (8th) |
| 2005 |
9th of 10 |
Individual |
9th of 10 |
T-52nd of 76 |
Eastham named Outdoor All-America in Shot Put (5th)
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| 2006 |
10th of 10 |
n/a |
9th of 10 |
n/a |
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| 2007 |
10th of 10 |
n/a |
10th of 10 |
n/a |
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| 2008 |
10th of 10 |
n/a |
10th of 10 |
Individual |
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| Trine (Ind.), NCAA Division III (2009-12) |
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INDOOR |
OUTDOOR |
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| Year |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Season Notes |
| 2009 |
n/a |
n/a |
T-6th of 6 |
n/a |
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| 2010 |
n/a |
n/a |
T-6th of 6 |
n/a |
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| 2011 |
n/a |
n/a |
7th of 7 |
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| 2012 |
n/a |
n/a |
6th of 7 |
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King named MIAA Jambroee Champion (200m) |
| Randolph (Va.), NCAA Division III (2014-19) |
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INDOOR |
OUTDOOR |
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| Year |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Season Notes |
| 2014 |
NTS |
n/a |
NTS |
n/a |
Inaugural Season (indoor and outdoor) |
| 2015 |
8th of 9 |
n/a |
8th of 9 |
n/a |
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| 2016 |
8th of 9 |
n/a |
8th of 9 |
n/a |
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| 2017 |
8th of 9 |
n/a |
8th of 9 |
n/a |
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| 2018 |
9th of 9 |
n/a |
8th of 8 |
n/a |
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| 2019 |
7th of 10 |
n/a |
8th of 9 |
n/a |
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| Sewanee, NCAA Division III (2020-Present) |
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INDOOR |
OUTDOOR |
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| Year |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Season Notes |
| 2020 |
NCAA canceled season in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 |
Did Not Participate due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2022 |
n/a |
n/a |
8th of 8 |
n/a |
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Bill Cooper's All-Time Collegiate Head-Coaching Record (MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD)
| Muskingum (Ohio), NCAA Division III (2004-07) |
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INDOOR |
OUTDOOR |
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| Year |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Season Notes |
| 2004 |
10th of 10 |
n/a |
9th of 10 |
Individual |
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| 2005 |
9th of 10 |
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9th of 10 |
n/a |
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| 2006 |
8th of 10 |
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10th of 10 |
T-41st of 70 |
Thonton named Outdoor All-America in 100m (4th)
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| 2007 |
6th of 10 |
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7th of 10 |
n/a |
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| 2008 |
10th of 10 |
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8th of 10 |
n/a |
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| Randolph (Va.), NCAA Division III (2014-19) |
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INDOOR |
OUTDOOR |
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| Year |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Season Notes |
| 2014 |
9th of 9 |
n/a |
9th of 9 |
n/a |
Inaugural Season (indoor and outdoor) |
| 2015 |
9th of 9 |
n/a |
9th of 9 |
n/a |
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| 2016 |
6th of 9 |
n/a |
9th of 9 |
n/a |
ODAC Indoor Coach of the Year |
| 2017 |
T-7th of 9 |
n/a |
T-5th of 9 |
T-72nd of 87 |
Quinn named Outdoor All-America in 110H (7th) |
| 2018 |
8th of 9 |
n/a |
8th of 9 |
n/a |
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| 2019 |
5th of 9 |
Individual |
9th of 10 |
Individual |
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| Sewanee, NCAA Division III (2020-Present) |
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INDOOR |
OUTDOOR |
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| Year |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Conference
Finish |
NCAA
National
Finish |
Season Notes |
| 2020 |
NCAA canceled season in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 |
Did Not Compete due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2022 |
n/a |
n/a |
8th of 8 |
n/a |
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Previous Experience
Cooper brings over two decades of experience, both as an NCAA Division III student-athlete and coach, to the Cumberland Plateau.
Prior to his arrival on the Domain, Cooper spent the last seven seasons at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Va. In the spring of 2014, he helped start the track and field program for the WildCats. In 2016, he was named the Indoor Track and Field Men's Coach of the Year by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
During his time in Virginia, he has coached four NCAA National Qualifiers in the indoor 60 meters, indoor 60 hurdles and the outdoor 110 hurdles. During the 2019 season, he saw 28 new school records, both with the indoor and outdoor program, made in the short history of the program.
With the cross country program at Randolph, he saw seven times make it to the Top-10 All-Time Performances.
Prior to his time in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Cooper spent four seasons as the head women's track and field and assistant cross country coach at Trine University in Indiana. During his time with the Thunder, his women's cross country team produced the highest team grade point average in the conference.
Additionally, he served as the Meet Director for 13 home collegiate, high school and club indoor track meets each season. He also helped coach a men's 200-meter champion in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA).
Before his coaching experience in Indiana, he was the head cross country and track and field coach for Muskingum College in Ohio from 2003-08, where he saw 16 NCAA Division III National Qualifiers and three All-Americans. Additionally, he coached 20 All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) selections and improved squad sizes with both programs.
He has also served as an assistant coach at Hartwick College (N.Y.) from 2000-01 and Colby College (Maine) from 2001-03.
Cooper earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, where he was a dual-sport athlete in soccer and track. A two-time OAC Champion in the outdoor 400-meter dash, he was an NCAA All-American in the event in 1996. His time of 47.99 seconds remains a Heidelberg school record.
Updated 6/25/22
