Nick Cooper will begin his seventh season at the helm of the Norwich University cross country program in 2017-18.
In the first six years under Cooper, the Cadets have won five GNAC team titles with three mens titles in 2012, 2015 and 2016, as well as two women's titles in 2014 and 2016. The 2014 title marked the first GNAC women's title in program history.
Under Cooper's guidance, the Cadets have earned 39 All-Conference honors, five GNAC Rookie of the Year awards (Nate Deer - 2011, Adam Miller - 2012, Chapel Guarnieri - 2013, Korey Leonard - 2015, Jack McNally - 2016) and two GNAC Runner of the Years (Chapel Guarnieri - 2014, Korey Leonard - 2015).
Cooper has won three GNAC Coach of the Year awards, winning the men's award in 2013 and 2015 as well as his first women's award in 2016. His team's have also been successful in the classrom with the women winning five straight USTFCCCAA Team All-Academic awards for maintaining atleast a 3.25 or better team GPA. The men also won their first Team All-Academic award in 2016.
The men's and women's programs are also coming off their highest finish ever at the NCAA New England Regional meet in 2016 with the men placing 13th and the women finishing 26th out of over 50 teams.
Before coming to Norwich, Cooper was an assistant coach for both the cross-country and track and field programs at his alma mater, NCAA Division I Drake University in Iowa. He helped coach two freshman men to the NCAA Championship Preliminary Rounds with their performances of 29:54 in the 10k and 3:48 in the 1500. In addition he coached the women’s team helping one of his women to 17:35 in the 5k.
Cooper competed at Drake University where he qualified for USA Track and Field's Junior Nationals his freshman year, was two-time team captain, all-conference performer, and a four-time member of the Missouri Valley Conference all-academic squad.
He continues to run and trains side-by-side with the team. While coaching the Cadets, Cooper placed 7th in the 2012 Vermont City Marathon and was the top Vermont finisher in the 2013 Boston Marathon.
In addition to coaching Cooper is a lawyer graduating with high honors from Drake University Law School and acts as Norwich’s regulatory compliance officer. He is also a co-founder and director of the non-profit James A. Albert Foundation which helps provide educational opportunities to children and families in Belize.
www.helpingbelizekids.org
Cooper and his wife Kylie, a OB/GYN physician and former Division I track athlete, reside in Shelburne along with their two girls Hazel and Cleo.
