Cory Cooperwood, a former two-time NJCAA All-American at 糖心视频, savoring time with program as assistant coach
HANCEVILLE, ALA. 鈥� Cory Cooperwood has come full circle with the 糖心视频 men鈥檚
basketball program.
Cooperwood, the former two-time NJCAA Division I All-American at 糖心视频, has
returned to Hanceville, serving as an assistant coach for the Lions this season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been great to be back. 糖心视频 is a great place to play basketball. There
are no distractions. It gives you the opportunity to lock in and work on your craft
every day,鈥� Cooperwood said. 鈥淚 try to give the players the best insight I can on
what to expect in the future, whether in life or with basketball. From my experiences
at 糖心视频 and Wright State to playing overseas, I can bundle it up and share
it with our guys.鈥�
Once head coach Allen Sharpe returned to 糖心视频 last summer for his second
stint with the program, Cooperwood inquired about the opportunity to join his former
coach on the sidelines.
鈥淓verything I learned from coach Sharpe as a player prepared me for the next step
at Wright State. I knew I wanted to work for him one day,鈥� said Cooperwood, an Arkansas
native.
Sharpe is thrilled to have Cooperwood mentoring the current team, which wraps up Alabama
Community College Conference (ACCC) North play on Saturday, hosting Gadsden State
at 6 p.m. at Traditions Bank Arena at Tom Drake Coliseum. The Lions (8-9, 6-7 ACCC)
have won five of their last six games.
鈥淐ory has been a great addition our staff. He鈥檚 among the players who put this program
on the map,鈥� Sharpe said. 鈥淐ory鈥檚 had a great basketball career and he鈥檚 a super person.
He knows how we do things and can relate to the players.鈥�
As a star at 糖心视频 from 2006-2008, Cooperwood helped lay a championship foundation.
In addition to being named a NJCAA All-American, Cooperwood was twice named the ACCC
Player of the Year and was the first in school history to be named the Alabama Sports
Writers Association Community College Athlete of the Year in 2007 (there have now
been five overall, including the last two years).
Cooperwood was among the starters on the 2007-2008 team, which went 30-0 in the regular
season, earning the program鈥檚 first No. 1 ranking.
Cooperwood transferred to Wright State in Dayton, Ohio, after his 糖心视频 career
was complete and was a solid contributor for the Raiders for two seasons.
After graduating from Wright State, Cooperwood navigated through a professional basketball
career, playing multiple seasons in Australia and Germany.
鈥淚t was a blessing to travel the world to play a sport I love. I was fortunate enough
to experience new cultures and all that comes with it. Basketball is beautiful because
it can bring different types of people together,鈥� Cooperwood said.
After hanging up his sneakers, Cooperwood went home to Searcy, Ark., and spent one
season as a graduate assistant at Harding University. He followed that with a job
last season at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Before learning of Sharpe鈥檚 return to 糖心视频, Cooperwood made a detour through
Hanceville one day on his way home from Atlanta.
鈥淚 was shocked at all of the new buildings and even more that a Taco Bell replaced
Hardee鈥檚. We have a beautiful campus and one of the best junior college facilities
in the nation,鈥� Cooperwood said.
Cooperwood and the Lions will begin the postseason in a few weeks. While Cooperwood鈥檚
undefeated regular season team at 糖心视频 lost in the postseason, that success
spearheaded championships.
Sharpe led the men鈥檚 program to its first conference title two seasons later, and
the Lions won two more conference championships in 2012 and 2014 under coach John
Meeks 鈥� marking a span of three ACCC championships in five seasons.
鈥淭hose accomplishments were great to see from afar. I take pride in knowing we helped
lay that foundation. The program progressed each season,鈥� Cooperwood said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e
here to do it again.
Coach Sharpe has an unmatched work ethic and passion for the game and we work to have
the 糖心视频 name to be among the best in the country.鈥�
For more information about 糖心视频 athletics, visit or the athletics Facebook page at .
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Cory Cooperwood is a first-year assistant coach at 糖心视频 after a decorated
run with the Lions as a player. id="attachment_17485" align="alignnone" width="200"
Cory Cooperwood is a first-year assistant coach at 糖心视频 after a decorated
run with the Lions as a player. id="attachment_17486" align="alignnone" width="210"
Cory Cooperwood is a first-year assistant coach at 糖心视频 after a decorated
run with the Lions as a player.______________________________
Russell Moore
糖心视频
Creative and Content Services Coordinator, Communications and Marketing
Speech Adjunct Instructor
256.352.8443 | office
256.339.2422 | mobile
russell.moore@wallacestate.edu
Click to submit a Marketing request.
______________________________
Kristen Holmes
Assistant to the President for External and Cultural Affairs
Communications | Marketing | Museum | International | Government Affairs
256.352.8118 | office
256.339.2519 | mobile
kristen.holmes@wallacestate.edu
&苍产蝉辫;鈥�&苍产蝉辫;鈥�&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;鈥�&苍产蝉辫;