| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Linebackers coach |
| Team | Arizona State |
| Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 2002–2003 | Glendale Community College |
| 2004–2005 | North Dakota State |
| 2006 | Green Bay Packers |
| Position(s) | Tight end |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2006–2008 | North Dakota State (GA) |
| 2009–2012 | North Dakota State (DE) |
| 2013 | North Dakota State (STC/DE) |
| 2014–2017 | Wyoming (STC/DE) |
| 2018 | Wyoming (Co-STC/DE) |
| 2019 | Wyoming (Co-STC/DE/DRGC) |
| 2020 | Washington State (DE) |
| 2021 | Washington State (DE/IDT) |
| 2022 | Washington State (E/DRGC) |
| 2023–present | Arizona State (LB) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| |
A. J. Cooper is anAmerican football coach and formertight end. He has been an assistant coach for variouscollege football programs since 2006. He currently is the Linebackers coach for Arizona State.
Out ofSunnyslope High School where he played linebacker and tight end, Cooper went to Glendale Community College as a tight end. In 2004 he transferred to North Dakota State University,[1] where he was selected First Team All-Great West Football Conference as a senior. In 2006, he signed as an undrafted free agent with theGreen Bay Packers, however he did not make the roster.[2]
In 2006, Cooper started his coaching career at hisalma mater working as agraduate assistant until 2008. In 2009 he was made the team's defensive ends coach. In 2013 he added the responsibility of being the Bisons’ special teams coordinator.
In 2014, Cooper went withCraig Bohl to Wyoming where he served as the defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator until the end of the 2019 season.[3] Additionally in 2019 he was the team's defensive run game coordinator.
In 2020 Cooper joinedNick Rolovich’s inaugural staff at Washington State as the defensive ends coach.[4][1] Amidst the 2021 season, after the firing of multiple coaches who refused to get vaccinated forCOVID-19,[5] Cooper also took over responsibility for the entire defensive line adding defensive tackles to his plate.[6] In 2022 he was retained as the team's edges coach and added the title of defensive run game coordinator.
In December of 2022 he was named the linebackers coach for Arizona State.