Story by Gabriel Strasbaugh | Photos by Kassandra Eller & Alex Groom | Design by Sione Sausau | Photos Contributed by AJ Cooper

According to Webster’s Dictionary, the definition of the word ‘champion’ is as follows:

1. A winner of first prize or first place in competition.

2. A militant advocate or defender. A champion of civil rights.

3. A warrior or a fighter. A champion of his kin.

For many Ellensburg community members, the word ‘champion’ best represents Pictured CWU’s Football Assistant and Defensive Backs Coach AJ Cooper.

He is well-known as a leader who uses his passion and love for the game of football to teach lessons of life and wisdom to the players he coaches and the community in which he resides.

There are many ways he has been said to inspire others to use their voices to make a difference, bringing hope that equality for all will be our future together.

First Down and 10 Yards from the Las Vegas 25 Yard Line

From his days growing up in the inner city of northern Las Vegas, Cooper says, he grew up learning how important inner strength is to an individual and has experienced family members that give their all to others.

Cooper explains, his dad was often away from home playing professional football, and during the times when his dad was home, it was sometimes difficult having to share his father’s time.

“Having to share my dad with multiple kids in the area, whether it was taking them home or making sure they have somewhere to sleep and something to eat tonight, showing up at court appearances or whatever it [was], I had to share my dad,” says Cooper.

Despite his frustrations, Cooper says, he saw the struggles that other kids had with limited resources and options, and he realized he was still thankful his dad was home with him at night.

Both of his parents have been role models in his life and he has held different experiences learning from each of them. Once when his dad was away playing professional football, Cooper explains, he found out his mother needed an emergency bypass and his strength was tested at that moment.

“Having a mom that does everything … the strongest person you know being vulnerable at a vulnerable point, it finds something within you that you have to overcome. That’s pretty much my lifestyle … I [watched] the strongest person I ever had go through some of her toughest moments, why can’t I?” says Cooper.

He continues to channel this motto learned from his mother in his day-to-day work with the Central football team.

Igniting the Flame

Just as his mother inspires Cooper, he does his best rendition of her lead with the players he coaches. From his success on the field, some players see Cooper’s accomplishments and use them to fuel their drive.

Regardless of position, many players have said they find Cooper’s energy and words of optimism demonstrate leadership skills needed for them to succeed both on and off the field.

Senior Digital Journalism major and Starting Offensive Lineman Will Ortner explains, he goes to Cooper whenever he needs a boost in leadership and to jump start his energy.

“When I go to Coach Coop, I’m talking to someone who’s similar to me in age. He’s not that much older than me and he’s been to where I want to be. He’s won a national title,” says Ortner.

For players who do play in the secondary, such as senior Physical Education and Student Health and Safety major Cody O’Connell, they get to work one-on-one with Cooper and see his leadership up close and personal.

“On away games, Coach will come sit next to you and talk to you and have real life outside of football conversation about life,” says O’Connell. “A normal coach might not always … He’s trying to do all the extra things that makes a player comfortable.”

Adding on the responsibility of not only coaching his players but also learning about their lives is what makes Cooper unique.

O’Connell explains, going from a cornerback to a coach as well as Cooper’s knowledge and experience of the defensive side of the ball is only one-half of what makes him a ‘player’s coach.’

“He knows his craft. He knows the corner position very well,” adds O’Connell. “I look over there and [the cornerbacks] have a new drill going every day that he’s made up to develop these players. He doesn’t just have that personality that relates to these players,” the other half of his coaching then centers around the man rather than the play-caller.

“Yes he does the game very well at his position, but I think his best aspect or characteristic as a coach is his personable side,” explains O’Connell.

Cooper says, the determination to not give up on any player is part of building a successful foundation. Teaching them that failure is a learning experience and how you overcome the hardship tells the story of how it happened.

“I approach them all the same way. You go through them, you don’t go around them,” explains Cooper. “Each experience is a learning experience. How many times will you allow it?”

He adds, the lessons he teaches on the field are the same ones on how to be a man. Not only from a family perspective but from a leader of a community reaching toward equality.

“I tell my guys if I see you react to giving up a ball, that tells me the first time something goes wrong in your family, you’re gonna fold,” says Cooper. “All of them will be fathers at the end of the day eventually … this football thing is a metaphor for life and I refuse to give up on people I love, just like I refuse to give up on the sport.”

Now more than ever, Cooper has shown not giving up is key for not just the players but the residents of this community.

A Goal-line Stand Against Inequality

With the tensions of racial injustice still a topic of conversation among many, people who know Cooper see how vital someone of his nature is for the betterment of their city.

Nate Perkins, junior cornerback and Public Health major with an emphasis in pre-nursing, says, “[After] the civil unjust we were experiencing during the summer of 2020, Coach Coop is leading a march through Ellensburg, [and] speaking at City Hall.”

Cooper’s efforts in creating a better environment for minorities earned him the ability to read the Black History Month Proclamation for the city of Ellensburg on Feb. 1, 2021.

This proclamation states, “Now, therefore, the City Council of the City of Ellensburg does hereby proclaim [Feb.] 2021 as African American History Month in Ellensburg and encourages all citizens to join in this observance by building bridges of understanding and friendship with our African American neighbors.”

Much of Cooper’s work with social justice in Ellensburg may be a result from his experiences working with students of a minority background.

Cooper explains, “A lot of the guys in my room come from minority backgrounds so we’ve already been against a lot of odds growing up.”

His philosophy on reacting to the injustices that occur in America is based on many of the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr.

“When you talk about social justice you think of Martin Luther King [Jr.] and Malcolm X. Eventually, Malcolm X conformed to the practices that Martin Luther King [Jr.] was doing [because Malcolm] was being violent to a point where that's the easy natural reaction,” Cooper explains.

He adds, “It takes a tougher, … stronger person to [be in] control and calm,” when discussing these issues and fighting for justice.

Much of this messaging from Cooper is translated into how he encourages his athletes, and some have even used his guidance to form their own alliances and groups in the community.

For Perkins, this honor shows how Cooper’s inspiration not only will be remembered in history but is continued in the groups formed by his teachings.

“We’re starting up a club on campus, Student Athletes for Social Justice, and it’s cool getting to bounce ideas off of them,” says Perkins.

Pekins also notes, his inspiration from Cooper gave him the confidence to present ideas discussed to the head coach of the team. The idea for coffee with cops became a reality, an idea with the hope of building better bridges between law enforcement and student-athletes.

“I’m sitting down with the chief of police for Ellensburg, the chief of police for Central and we’re just talking and we’re on such [a] good basis and terms that I got their phone numbers,” says Perkins. “They want to reach out and talk weekly while being in our zoom meetings.”

From his player’s perspective, all of the credit belongs to the trust and confidence Cooper instills in them.

“It’s pretty cool he’s showing us the type of power we have in our words and this platform we have as student-athletes,” adds Perkins.

Just as Cooper used his platform as a player, coach, leader, social justice advocate and champion, the drive he inspires in his players is just a reflection of the hard work and honors sown in his fabric.

“It’s pretty cool to see that he’s being recognized for the stuff that he does,” says Perkins. “He’s genuine. He’s educating us and for him to go down in history in Ellensburg like that, that’s dope.”