Coach CJ Cooper was born and raised in Chino, California, in a Christian family where basketball has always been a big part of life. Surrounded by coaches and basketball enthusiasts from an early age, he developed not only a love for the game, but also an understanding of the impact coaches can have on the lives of young people.

That passion led Coach Cooper to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where he played Division I basketball for four years while earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Communication. After his playing career, he had the opportunity to return to the sidelines as a collegiate coach at UTEP, giving him a new perspective on the game and strengthening his passion for teaching and developing athletes.

For more than 10 years, Coach Cooper has worked with young athletes at different stages of their development. He believes basketball can teach lessons that reach far beyond the court—discipline, resilience, accountability, confidence, and what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself. Most importantly, he wants his players to understand that who they become as young men matters far more than any scoreboard.

Coach Cooper enjoys building meaningful relationships with his students and players while helping them grow in their faith, discover their potential, and pursue excellence both on and off the court.