Brandon Cooper enters his third season at Samford. He is responsible for coaching the team’s linebackers.
In 2023, linebacker Noah Martin landed All-American honors from FCS Central and the Associated Press. Martin was also named first team All-SoCon after becoming the first Bulldog since 2019 to record triple digit tackles.
In 2022, his first season at Samford, Cooper helped lead a much-improved defense that helped the Bulldogs to their best season in over 30 years, posting a record of 11-2 overall and 8-0 in Southern Conference play. The Bulldogs won the program’s first outright SoCon title and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I-FCS Playoffs for the first time since 1991. One of the leaders of the defense was linebacker Nathan East, who was named second team All-SoCon.
Cooper served as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at UNC Charlotte from 2019 to 2021. In Cooper’s first year with the 49ers, he helped Charlotte to school records for wins (7), C-USA wins (5) and winning streak (5 games) while the 49ers earned a trip to their first bowl game: the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl.
Charlotte ranked second in C-USA and 14th in the FBS with 189.0 passing yards allowed. Cornerback Nafees Lyon, who was ranked as the nation’s top DB against post routes by Pro Football Focus, earned all-Conference USA honorable mention. Fellow defensive back Lance McMillan was a C-USA all-Freshman Team selection.
Cooper had been on the staff at Austin Peay the previous three years before moving to UNC Charlotte. Originally brought on as co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2016, Cooper was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2018 season. Together, they were part of the most dramatic turnaround in college football history as the Govs went from a 1-45 team over four seasons to a 13-10 mark over their final two seasons that included a 13-6 record vs. FCS brothers.
Cooper joined APSU after a year at Murray State after a two-year stint at Chattanooga. In those two years, the Mocs went 18-8 with a 13-2 mark in the Southern Conference. In 2013, the Mocs led the Southern Conference in total defense, passing defense and scoring defense. In 2014, on its way to an unbeaten 7-0 league mark, the Mocs ranked in the FCS Top 15 in total defense, pass defense and scoring defense.
Prior to Chattanooga, Cooper was a cornerbacks coach at Jacksonville State, where he helped the Gamecocks to the 2011 Ohio Valley Conference title.
A four-year letterwinner at UT-Martin, Cooper got his coaching start at his alma mater. He played from 2003-06 and coached from 2008-10. As a player, he led the Skyhawks to their first OVC Championship as a senior in 2006. As a coach, Cooper helped the Skyhawks lead the OVC in total defense, passing defense and third-down defense in 2010.
Cooper graduated from UT-Martin in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance. He married his wife, Natasha in 2015.
