Indiana University Athletics
Coyte Cooper Feature
2/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Bloomington, Ind. -- After a successful career that ended with an eighth-place showing and All-American honors at the 2004 NCAA Championship and the fourth-most wins in school history (123), Coyte Cooper knew that it was time to close one chapter in his life and start the next one: coaching.
"I knew it was time." Cooper said. "Towards the end of my wrestling career, I really felt that it was time to move on. I really enjoyed my wrestling career, and I knew that when I was done, coaching was something that I always wanted to do."
When the decision came for Cooper to continue his education and begin his coaching career, it was an easy decision to join head coach Duane Goldman's staff as the volunteer coach.
As a three-time state champion and a Wresting USA Academic All-American at Anacortes High School in Anacortes, Wash., Cooper has always been interested in coaching.
"I have always enjoyed coaching," Cooper said. "Even in high school, I would work with the younger guys. It was something I felt that I always had a knack for. There was times during the career here at Indiana, where I wanted to help my teammates, but I had to focus on my training and preparation."
From the first day of practice, Cooper noticed the difference between competition to coaching, and he felt that he was right back where when he was as a true freshman in 1999.
"I feel like I am a freshman again in terms of my experience in coaching," Cooper said. "When you make the jump from competition to coaching, you have to learn the NCAA and recruiting rules, how to run practice and how to relate to the team, among other things."
Going from the mat to on the sidelines, Cooper realize that you had to approach wrestling differently and he saw wrestling from a different standpoint.
"It's a huge difference going from on the mat to the sideline." Cooper said. "I am seeing things from a completely different viewpoint. I have learned there are different ways of observing techniques and styles."
Cooper has turned to the Indiana staff of Goldman and assistant coaches Mike Mena and Reggie Wright, who have over 23 years of collegiate and international experience, to help him during his transition.
"I have learned a lot from every one of them." Cooper said. "They have been coaching for sometime now and have a lot of experience. I spend a lot of time with Mena talking about recruiting and wrestling. They understand training and working with these guys. There isn't a part of wrestling that I haven't learned. I feel more comfortable now than I did at the start of the year because of the staff."
Along with the added pressure of being a first-year coach, Cooper has also continued his academic career as he is currently working towards his master's in sports management. The four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection is also teaching classes as well.
"This is the most challenged I have ever been." Cooper said. "Physically, it is much harder to wrestle and go to classes. With dealing with time, coaching, going to classes, teaching and road trips it's challenging."
The IU staff is not suprised that Cooper made the transition to coaching. The heavy workload Cooper is taking on hasn't gone unnoticed by the IU staff either.
"Coyte is a very focused and disciplined person." Goldman said. "He brings a mature attitude to the sport, especially for someone just out of college."
One area where the coaching staff feels that Cooper is ahead of the learning curve is how he relates to the wrestlers on and off the mat.
"Coyte is a valuable asset to the wrestling program." Wright said. "He can relate to the guys on the team. He has been here for five years and knows what Duane wants. He is an intense, hard working guy that cares about the sport."
Goldman feels Cooper has a bright future in this business
"He has the ability to identify and relate with the wrestlers on the team." Goldman said. "He bridges the gap for us coaches."
With Cooper being just a year out of college and coaching athletes who were his teammates a year ago, he tries to bring his experiences from the Big Ten to help them.
"You try to help them out mentally." Cooper said. "I have been here for five years, and I know what it takes to wrestle in the Big Ten Conference. I try to help them as much as I can, because I have been through it."
According to Cooper, this is just the start to what he hopes is a long and successful career.
"I knew it was time." Cooper said. "Towards the end of my wrestling career, I really felt that it was time to move on. I really enjoyed my wrestling career, and I knew that when I was done, coaching was something that I always wanted to do."
When the decision came for Cooper to continue his education and begin his coaching career, it was an easy decision to join head coach Duane Goldman's staff as the volunteer coach.
As a three-time state champion and a Wresting USA Academic All-American at Anacortes High School in Anacortes, Wash., Cooper has always been interested in coaching.
"I have always enjoyed coaching," Cooper said. "Even in high school, I would work with the younger guys. It was something I felt that I always had a knack for. There was times during the career here at Indiana, where I wanted to help my teammates, but I had to focus on my training and preparation."
From the first day of practice, Cooper noticed the difference between competition to coaching, and he felt that he was right back where when he was as a true freshman in 1999.
"I feel like I am a freshman again in terms of my experience in coaching," Cooper said. "When you make the jump from competition to coaching, you have to learn the NCAA and recruiting rules, how to run practice and how to relate to the team, among other things."
Going from the mat to on the sidelines, Cooper realize that you had to approach wrestling differently and he saw wrestling from a different standpoint.
"It's a huge difference going from on the mat to the sideline." Cooper said. "I am seeing things from a completely different viewpoint. I have learned there are different ways of observing techniques and styles."
Cooper has turned to the Indiana staff of Goldman and assistant coaches Mike Mena and Reggie Wright, who have over 23 years of collegiate and international experience, to help him during his transition.
"I have learned a lot from every one of them." Cooper said. "They have been coaching for sometime now and have a lot of experience. I spend a lot of time with Mena talking about recruiting and wrestling. They understand training and working with these guys. There isn't a part of wrestling that I haven't learned. I feel more comfortable now than I did at the start of the year because of the staff."
Along with the added pressure of being a first-year coach, Cooper has also continued his academic career as he is currently working towards his master's in sports management. The four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection is also teaching classes as well.
"This is the most challenged I have ever been." Cooper said. "Physically, it is much harder to wrestle and go to classes. With dealing with time, coaching, going to classes, teaching and road trips it's challenging."
The IU staff is not suprised that Cooper made the transition to coaching. The heavy workload Cooper is taking on hasn't gone unnoticed by the IU staff either.
"Coyte is a very focused and disciplined person." Goldman said. "He brings a mature attitude to the sport, especially for someone just out of college."
One area where the coaching staff feels that Cooper is ahead of the learning curve is how he relates to the wrestlers on and off the mat.
"Coyte is a valuable asset to the wrestling program." Wright said. "He can relate to the guys on the team. He has been here for five years and knows what Duane wants. He is an intense, hard working guy that cares about the sport."
Goldman feels Cooper has a bright future in this business
"He has the ability to identify and relate with the wrestlers on the team." Goldman said. "He bridges the gap for us coaches."
With Cooper being just a year out of college and coaching athletes who were his teammates a year ago, he tries to bring his experiences from the Big Ten to help them.
"You try to help them out mentally." Cooper said. "I have been here for five years, and I know what it takes to wrestle in the Big Ten Conference. I try to help them as much as I can, because I have been through it."
According to Cooper, this is just the start to what he hopes is a long and successful career.
"The fun part is coaching is seeing what I have taught performed on the mat." Cooper said. "I want to earn my PhD, teach and coach at the college level."
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 12
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11