UIC head men’s basketball coach Steve McClain announced the addition of Seth Cooper to his staff on June 15, 2006. Cooper will serve the Flames as an assistant coach, joining Ron Coleman and Brendan Mullins.
“There is no question that Seth Cooper will make a great impact on an already strong coaching staff,” said McClain. “His background in player development from his time working at Indiana, and in the NBA D-League, is unmatched at any level. He has had great success in helping to develop players both on and off the court.
“Seth has a great feel for the game of basketball as a coach,” added McClain. “We know he will do a great job recruiting young men to UIC because he has established strong relationships through the game of basketball during his time at Indiana and in the NBA and NBA D-League.”
“I am very excited to reunite with Coach McClain at UIC,” said Cooper. “He is a great coach and I look forward to helping to build the Flames into a big-time winning program.”
Prior to arriving in the Windy City, Cooper served as the associate head coach for the Maine Red Claws, the NBA Development League affiliate of the Boston Celtics. The Red Claws posted 66 victories in two seasons during Cooper’s tenure while capturing back-to-back Atlantic Division titles. Cooper and the Maine staff inherited a club that won only 19 times in 50 games during the 2013-14 season; the group made an immediate impact by earning the NBA D-League’s best record and the top seed in the playoffs during their first season on the bench.
Cooper’s duties with the Red Claws included organizational integration of the Celtics’ offensive and defensive systems, in-game strategy alongside the 2015 NBA D-League Coach of the Year, Scott Morrison, scouting, film analysis and more. Cooper coached against more than 100 players with NBA experience and he helped mold the likes of Coty Clarke, who was called up the highest level twice, and Tim Frazier, the 2015 NBA D-League Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. The hard-nosed guard has played in more than 60 NBA games with four different franchises.
Before honing his coaching skills in Maine, Cooper worked in the college game from 2010-14 alongside McClain at Indiana University. Cooper filled multiple roles on IU head coach Tom Crean’s staff that allowed him to aid in the development of the Hoosiers. His assistance in player development paid significant dividends as Indiana led the NCAA in field-goal percentage (48.7) and 3-point field-goal percentage (41.6) over a two year span from 2011-13. In both years the Hoosiers advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and the 2012-13 group went 29-7 with a Big Ten title.
Under the tutelage of both Crean and McClain, Cooper developed his knowledge of analytics, game planning, camp direction, recruiting and more. During his time at Indiana, the squad boasted top-five recruiting classes in 2012 (No. 2) and 2013 (No. 4). Cooper obtained a master’s degree in Athletic Administration and Sports Management from IU in 2013.
During Cooper’s four seasons in Bloomington, Ind., he fostered the growth of three NBA lottery picks. Victor Oladipo was named the 2013 NCAA Sporting News Player of the Year before being selected second overall by the Orlando Magic that summer. Two picks later, the Charlotte Bobcats chose another Hoosier, Cody Zeller, with the fourth overall pick. In the 2014 draft, Charlotte drafted power forward Noah Vonleh with ninth overall pick. In addition to Oladipo, Zeller, Vonleh, and a host of NBA D-League talents, Cooper trained the seventh overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, Emanuel Mudiay (Denver), and the 19th pick, Jerian Grant (New York).
From 2006-10, Cooper worked for the Los Angeles Clippers as an assistant video coordinator. He assisted head coach Mike Dunleavy and the staff with practices, workouts, meetings and film sessions. Cooper was also responsible for supplying Dunleavy with the offensive game plan each night. Additionally, he worked as an advance scout for the Clippers.
As a player, Cooper was a two-year captain and three-time All-Lake Michigan First Team selection at Edgewood College from 2002-06. An NCAA Division III Midwest Region All-American, he was named the 2005 Lake Michigan Conference Play of the Year, and to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Midwest All-District team that same year. Cooper, a four-year Lake Michigan Conference Scholar Athlete, graduated from Edgewood with a degree in Business Management.
Cooper and his wife, Corina, were married in September 2015.
What They’re Saying About Seth Cooper:
Tom Crean, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Indiana University:
“Seth Cooper will fit perfectly into the vision that Steve McClain has for UIC Basketball because he is all about passion for improvement and doing things consistently with a very high standard. Seth may not have been well known to the public while at Indiana, but he was a bright light and a shining star inside of our program. I’ve never personally encountered anyone that is as tireless as Seth. Except for Steve McClain. Seth will expand the culture of improvement in a big way.”
Dave Lewin, Director of Scouting, Boston Celtics/General Manager, Maine Red Claws:
“Seth is an incredibly bright, dedicated, young coach with a very bright future ahead of him. His passion for helping players reach their potential is unmatched. There is no one I trust more to help players get better. The Boston Celtics benefited tremendously from Seth’s contributions over the past two years, and UIC is incredibly fortunate to be getting such a terrific talent.”
Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic:
“Seth Cooper had a huge part in my development when I was at Indiana. Without him I wouldn’t have become the player I became in college, or had the success I did. I still remember sitting on the sideline crying after my very first practice because I knew I had a long way to go for my dreams to come true. He reached out his hand, lifted me up and said, ‘It’s only day one. You will get there and all we have to do is work.’ From that day on he was always in the gym with me finding drills to help me improve. He was with me shooting extra after practice or watching extra film to help me gain an edge. Seth Cooper became the big brother I never had and he pushes me to be great every day. That is why we are still close today. Without Seth I would not be where I am today.”
Scott Morrison, Head Coach, Maine Red Claws:
“It’s been a great pleasure working with Seth these past two seasons in Maine. His work ethic and basketball IQ were major keys to our success in winning back-to-back division championships. UIC is getting a great leader, excellent player-development coach, and even better person.”
Tim Frazier, New Orleans Pelicans:
“Seth was a great coach in D-League. The time and attention Seth shows toward the guys on his team is immeasurable. As a coach, he puts in extra hours right alongside you in the gym to assist you in perfecting your craft.”
Noah Vonleh, Portland Trailblazers
“Seth was very important in helping me to reach my dream of becoming a lottery pick. He helped me develop both my inside and perimeter game. I still workout with him whenever I can in the offseason. He always pushes me to be my best. If I was a high school player wanting to make the NBA, Seth is who I would want coaching and working with me.”
Jerian Grant, New York Knicks
“Seth really helped prepare me for the NBA Draft. He got me ready for pre-draft workouts and helped me improve on skills that I needed for the NBA.”
