MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | During the fall semester, Florida Memorial's women's basketball team added assistant coach Stephanie Cooper to its coaching staff. So far this season, the Lady Lions are 4-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play, and just earned a Sun Conference Player of the Week award in Aliyah Deen-Ahmad.
"We hired Coach Stephanie Cooper not only for her coaching strengths, but also on her ability to recruit high-level student-athletes," said Florida Memorial head women's basketball coach
Gregory Stanback. "She has built strong recruiting connections across the country, and these relationships will be valuable to our program here at Florida Memorial," Coach
Gregory Stanback explained.
Coach Cooper is a native of Dallas (South Garland alumna) who led the Duncanville Pantherettes to a 6A state title back in 2017. She gives back to youth by leading summer camps for the following entities: United States of America (USA) Basketball, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Wings, and legendary player and coach Nancy Lieberman.
As a Texas evaluator and coach, Cooper's players have received many accolades and scholarship opportunities both in the states and overseas. Professionally, she is a player development coach for WNBA, NBA and FIBA players.
Cooper got her head coaching start at Dallas ISD's H. Grady Spruce High School, then also balanced duties as she accepted the role of head coach at Paul Quinn College, a small HBCU in the Dallas Fort-Worth area. Since both opportunities came up simultaneously, Coach Cooper decided to coach at both locations at the same time to help develop both high school and collegiate players.
"I have seen a Stephanie coach our kids at camp for many years. She's focused, dedicated, and her passion is to make you better each in every day," said Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
"Coach Cooper's extensive experience and knowledge of the game will no doubt prove to be an invaluable asset to the Florida Memorial University Lady Lions program," said Ronard Patton of the Dallas Mavericks staff. "Her desire to succeed as a student of the game is what has allowed her to be one of the most well respected voices on the sideline. No matter the stage, she'll be prepared for the challenge," explained Coach Patton.
When asked how she was introduced to the game of basketball, Cooper calmly responded.
"When I was in middle school, around fifth grade, my step-dad got me involved in basketball," Cooper explained. "As I got a little older, my middle school coach, Coach Smith, became my mentor. He took me under his wing and the rest is history."
Cooper suffered a season ending injury when she tore her ACL in the eighth grade, but she did not allow the minor setback to deter her career. She went on to start on her varsity team at South Garland, then suffered another torn ACL in the 10th grade. After tearing her ACL yet a third and final time, she knew coaching was the avenue she had to take.
"Well, I am excited to be back at an HBCU and in a new state," said Cooper. "My goal is to bring a championship mindset to our student-athletes. With the relationships I have already forged, I want to continue to give them the tools for success, and help them help grow in all aspects, especially giving back to our community that we currently live in. I'm big on community service," said Coach Cooper.
Coach Cooper attended Texas Woman's University (TWU) in Denton, Texas, where she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
She has one son named Jordan who attends the University of Houston.
