Episode Details

Brad Cooper just completed his first season as the Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York. He spent the previous season as an assistant at Hamilton College. Prior to joining the staff at Hamilton, Cooper was the head coach at Keystone College in La Plume, Pa., from 2013 to 2023 and an assistant coach at Keystone for the previous two seasons.

Cooper has also been the 17U boys' coach for Scranton-based NEPA Elite AAU since 2022, and was an assistant coach at his alma mater -- SUNY Fredonia -- during the 2010-11 season. He graduated from Fredonia as one of the top 15 all-time leading scorers at the school with 1,077 career points and was a two-time member of the State University of New York Athletic Conference men's basketball all-conference team.

On this episode Brad Cooper reflects on the significance of consistency, preparation, and the cultivation of a positive team culture in the context of rebuilding a basketball program. Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining a steadfast approach, irrespective of the outcomes of games, as it ultimately fosters a winning mentality among players. Cooper articulates his philosophy of using basketball as a tool for personal development, highlighting how this mindset shapes not only the athletes on the court but also their lives beyond the game. We delve into the challenges of competing in the Empire 8, the necessity of effective communication, and the paramount importance of professionalism in recruitment. This episode serves as a testament to the transformative power of basketball and the role of a coach in guiding young athletes to realize their potential both on and off the court.

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You’ll want to take some notes as you listen to this episode with Brad Cooper, Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Hartwick College.

Website - https://www.hartwickhawks.com/sports/mens-basketball

Email - cooperb@hartwick.edu

Twitter/X - @bradmichael11

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